If you’re convicted of a felony, with a sentence of 2 years to life, you generally do your time in a prison instead of a jail.

However, a decade or so ago, Texas came up with a new classification of crimes called "state jail felonies", which were punishable by up to two years in a state jail.

So, one question is whether you really meant "jail" or you meant more generally "locked up".

Another question about your question is whether someone has been sentenced to at least 5 years, or they’ve actually been locked up for at least 5 years.

Wardens are better able to control their prisoners if they’re able to offer them "good time" for behaving while they’re in prison. Accordingly, as a general rule, one will normally serve a fraction of their sentence locked up, if they behave. (exception: state jail felonies are served actual time). So, to receive a SENTENCE of 5 years, they’d have to be convicted of a felony of the 3rd Degree, 2nd Degree, or 1st Degree. But to actually serve at least 5 years, it’s unlikely to have been a 3rd Degree Felony.

For details on the types of crimes look up the Texas Criminal Code online. You’ll find that in many cases it depends on the seriousness of the crime. Possession of a small amount of marijuana is a misdemeanor, more of it is a 3rd degree felony, even more is a second degree felony, and even more of it is a 1st degree felony.

But, you probably want to know what your friend’s uncle is locked up for. If he’s in prison, you can look him up if you know his full legal name and date of birth in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice – Institutional Division web site — and find out exactly what he’s locked up for.
References :