Former US Senator Bob Menendez has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for bribery and corruption charges.
Last July, a jury found Menendez guilty on 16 counts for accepting gifts, including gold bars, cash, and a Mercedes-Benz, in exchange for helping foreign governments.
Prosecutors sought at least a 15-year sentence, citing the "rare gravity" of Menendez's crimes. However, his lawyers argued for a shorter sentence paired with community service.
Before receiving his sentence, Menendez addressed the courtroom, saying, "Other than family, I have lost everything I ever cared about. Every day I'm awake is a punishment."
US Judge Sidney Stein stated, "Somewhere along the way, you became, I'm sorry to say, a corrupt politician."
Menendez's co-conspirators, Fred Daibes and Wael Hana, were also sentenced. Daibes received seven years in prison and a $1.75 million fine, while Hana received more than eight years in prison and a $1.25 million fine.
Menendez has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and plans to appeal the guilty verdict. His resignation from the Senate followed the guilty verdict, which came after a nine-week trial.
The trial revealed that Menendez accepted gifts worth over $100,000 and more than $480,000 in cash. In exchange, prosecutors said Menendez helped secure millions of dollars in US aid for Egypt.
A third businessman, Jose Uribe, has pleaded guilty and is expected to be sentenced later this year. Nadine Menendez, the ex-senator's wife, has also been accused of participating in the scheme and will face trial in March.
Comments
Post a Comment