CHARLESTON, S.C. — During a night of vodka, cocaine, marijuana, and video games, Joey Meek listened as a childhood buddy confided that he hated blacks so much he was going to kill them at a Charleston church.

Meek said he thought his friend was all talk until a week later, when news broke of a deadly shooting rampage at Emanuel AME church. But instead of calling authorities, Meek talked another friend out of going to police and giving them Dylan Roof’s name. And then he lied to the FBI about his conversation with Roof.

For those crimes, Meek, 22, was sentenced Tuesday to more than two years in prison.

The punishment was imposed by the federal judge who presided at Roof’s trial, which ended in January with the avowed white supremacist sentenced to death for massacring nine black people as they bowed their heads in prayer during a Wednesday night Bible study session on June 17, 2015.

Unlike Roof, Meek showed remorse for his crimes. ‘‘I’m really, really sorry. A lot of beautiful lives were taken,’’ he said.

He cried as he told the judge he fears retribution behind bars: ‘‘I don’t know if I’ll make it out of prison alive. I’m scared.’’

US District Judge Richard Gergel’s 27-month prison term was the minimum punishment under federal sentencing guidelines. The government wanted a stiffer sentence to make an example out of Meek and because he could have stopped the massacre.

None of the victims’ family members spoke in court.

In a deal with prosecutors, Meek pleaded guilty to concealment of a crime and lying to the FBI.

The judge said Meek’s actions delayed Roof’s capture for hours, during which Roof easily could have massacred more people somewhere else.

Associated Press