Virginia ex-governor gets 2 years in prison for corruption

Robert McDonnell, former governor of U.S. state of Virginia, was sentenced on Tuesday to two years in prison for taking bribes.

The prison term for McDonnell, 60, is far shorter than the 20-year imprisonment federal prosecutors sought in September. The former governor was ordered to report to prison on Feb. 9.

U.S. District Judge James Spencer, who imposed the sentence at a courtroom in Virginia, said he was moved by the outpouring of support for McDonnell, the governor's military service, and the facts of the case, though he could not ignore the jury's verdict.

The penalty is a win for defense attorneys, who had asked that the former governor be sentenced to mere community service.

Maureen, wife of McDonnell, was also convicted in the case. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 20.

Though McDonnell will certainly appeal his conviction, the sentence brings to a close a stunning narrative of politics, greed and family drama that reached a climax in September when McDonnell and his wife were convicted of public corruption.

A jury found unanimously that the couple used the governor's office to help a wealthy dietary supplement company executive advance his business interests, and in exchange, the businessman gave the McDonnells 177,000 dollars in loans, gifts and luxury goods. McDonnell led the state from 2010 till January 2014.

The businessman, Jonnie Williams, testified against the McDonnells at trial in exchange for immunity from prosecution. Endit