Ex-Virginia Governor Sentenced For Corruption

The former governor of Virginia, Bob McDonnell, was sentenced to two years in federal prison, far less time than the 10 years for which the prosecutors were pushing. McDonnell, who was convicted in September on 11 corruption charges, accepted bribes from Star Scientific Inc. to promote the company's dietary supplement.

McDonnell and his wife were convicted for accepting several gifts, shopping trips, and vacations worth about $177,000 from the company. The company's former CEO, Jonnie Williams, testified against McDonnell during the six-week trial. McDonnell's wife, who was convicted of eight counts, will be sentenced Feb. 20.

In a statement outside the courthouse, McDonnell thanked the judge for mercy, but said he disagreed with the verdict that was rendered by the jury and would file an appeal. Addressing a crowd, he said:

I am a fallen human being. I’ve made mistakes in my life. I always tried to put the best interests of the people first as governor, but I have failed at times, and some of the judgments I have made during the course of my course of my governorship have hurt myself, my family and my beloved people of Virginia, and for that I am deeply, deeply sorry. But I would also say to the great people of Virginia that I have never, ever betrayed my sacred oath of office as I served as governor of this great commonwealth.

According to Larry O'Dell and Alan Suderman of the Associated Press, McDonnell is the 12th governor in the nation to be convicted on corruption charges. The Republican was elected as Virginia's 71st governor in 2009 using the slogan "Bob for Jobs" and served for four years. He was indicted 10 days after leaving office.

When criminal charges were filed in January 2014, the former governor released a statement in which he said:

We did not violate the law, and I will use every available resource and advocate I have for as long as it takes to fight these false allegations, and to prevail against this unjust overreach of the federal government.

McDonnell must report to prison by Feb. 9.