The former speaker of the NYS Assembly, Sheldon Silver is going to jail for 12 years and he must pay back more than $5 million on his corruption conviction.
The government had wanted a 14 year sentence but the judge in U.S. District Court handed down a lower amount and has ordered Silver to pay almost $2 million in fines along with the $5 million in forfeiture funds.
Judge Valerie Caproni said the lighter sentence is in light of Silver's age, 72, and his battle with prostate cancer. The judge could have given the once powerful democrat 27 years had she followed sentencing guidelines.
Governor Andrew Cuomo issued this statement late Tuesday afternoon.
