Democrat Sheldon Silver is the former Assembly Speaker for the state of New York.
He was convicted on corruption charges five years ago but the conviction was overturned.
After facing another trial however, he was found guilty and has now been sentenced to 78 months in prison.
FOX News reports:
Ex-NY Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver sentenced to 78 months in prison
Former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver lost his final bid to fend off jail time on Monday after a judge sentenced him to 78 months in prison in a courtroom saga that has spanned almost five years.
Lawyers for Silver – once one of New York’s most powerful politicians – asked Judge Valerie E. Caproni of the Federal District Court in Manhattan to allow the former lawmaker to serve his term in home confinement, citing Silver’s history of cancer and chronic kidney disease and fears that he might die from the coronavirus while incarcerated.
Caproni, however, was unconvinced – saying that Silver “acted out of a sense of greed” and that it was inappropriate for him to not serve time in prison.
Silver was originally convicted in November 2015 on charges that he traded favors to earn $5 million illegally and then lied about it.
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The Manhattan federal court jury returned the verdict after a three-week trial in which prosecutors claimed that the former Democratic assemblyman repeatedly promised the favors to enrich himself. The defense countered that the government was trying to criminalize the longtime routines of politics in Albany.
It looks like being a Democrat didn’t save him this time.
Ex-NY Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver sentenced to 78 months in prison https://t.co/AYcNMfM03E
— Thomass4217 (@ThomasS4217) July 20, 2020
“The time has come for Mr. Silver to pay the piper,” U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni said Monday, ordering a 6.5-year resentencing, which trimmed just six off months from Sheldon Silver's prior sentence on public corruption counts. @CourthouseNews https://t.co/lGtbrbnIVI
— JOSH RUSSELL (@jruss_jruss) July 20, 2020
This is Silver's third sentencing for using his powerful political position for personal gain. https://t.co/JpRiqLlXAW
— News 8 WROC (@News_8) July 20, 2020
Three strikes and you’re out.
(Image:Source)
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