Former Senator Bob Menendez was sentenced Wednesday to 11 years in prison after being found guilty of accepting bribes in cash and gold bars and acting as an agent in the service of the Egyptian government.
The conviction marks the latest act of decline for Mr. Menendez, who was convicted last July of enriching himself through a series of corrupt acts.
Prosecutors said that in exchange for gold, thousands of dollars and a luxury car, the democrat tried to shield associates from criminal investigations, met with Egyptian intelligence officials and took steps to help Egypt access millions of dollars in United States military aid.
Mr. Menendez, 71, has previously said he will appeal the decision.
Earlier on Wednesday, Judge Sidney H. Stein sentenced Fred Daibes, 67, one of two New Jersey businessmen convicted of bribing Senator Menendez, to seven years in prison.
Prosecutors had requested a sentence of nine years in prison, while his lawyers said he should be sentenced to less than two years in prison.
Judge Stein also fined Mr. Daibes, a real estate investor, $1.75 million.
Before the sentencing, Mr. Daibes, with tears in his eyes, told the judge that the jury's verdict was "bordering on a suicide sentence" and appealed to him to have mercy so that he could care for his 30-year-old autistic son.
The judge also sentenced the second businessman, Wael Hana, to eight years in prison and fined him $1.25 million.
Before the verdict, Mr. Hanna told the judge he was innocent. He added that he had never bribed Senator Menendez or solicited his services.
A third businessman pleaded guilty and testified against Mr. Menendez in court last year.
Mr. Menendez resigned from the Senate after being found guilty last year.
He lost much of his power in the fall of 2023, as the allegations against him became public and he was forced to resign from the important position in the Senate as head of the Foreign Relations Committee. /VOA (A2 Televizion)
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