John Ventimiglia, who plays restaurateur Artie Bucco on "The Sopranos" pleaded guilty to drunken driving in a New York court.

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The actor who plays Tony Soprano's boyhood pal appeared in court Monday. He had been pulled over on May 1 by police who found his blood-alcohol level at .12 percent, as well as a small bag of cocaine.

Ventimiglia's sentence includes taking about the dangers of drunk driving at 30 Brooklyn high schools beginning this fall. His public speaking engagements are one part of an outreach program called Choices and Consequences, the New York Post reported.

The actor must also pay a $500 fine, give up his driver's license for three months, attend a department of motor vehicles program and submit to future drug tests.

Judge Ruth Smith said Ventimiglia got a tougher-than-usual deal for first-time offenders. Because he makes an excellent spokesman, he was offered the community service opportunity.