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Former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for his involvement in what prosecutors called one of the most brazen corruption schemes in U.S. history.

Menendez, who served nearly 18 years in the Senate representing New Jersey, was convicted of accepting nearly $1 million in bribes, including cash, gold bars, and a luxury car, in exchange for political favors.

At his sentencing hearing on Wednesday, Menendez, 71, appeared before U.S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein, holding back tears as he defended his public service. “I believe that in a half-century of public service I’ve done far more good than bad,” Menendez told the court, despite the severe charges against him.

Prosecutors accused Menendez of accepting bribes from three New Jersey businessmen seeking help securing deals with Egyptian and Qatari officials, including military aid to Egypt and the disclosure of sensitive U.S. information. Menendez became the first U.S. official convicted of acting as a foreign agent.

Alongside Menendez, the businessmen involved in the bribery scheme were also sentenced. Fred Daibes, one of the conspirators, received a sentence of seven years and two months, while Wael “Will” Hana was sentenced to eight years and one month. A third businessman, Jose Uribe, had pleaded guilty earlier and is expected to testify against Menendez’s wife, Nadine, in her upcoming trial.

Prosecutors had originally pushed for a 15-year sentence and financial penalties, arguing that Menendez’s actions had severely undermined public trust in government. They stated, “Very few Senators have even been convicted of any criminal offense, and of those, most… accepted amounts that are a fraction of what Menendez reaped.”

Despite his conviction, Menendez maintained his innocence, insisting he was unaware of his wife’s dealings and defended his political efforts as legitimate. His defense team requested either no prison time or a reduced sentence, framing the case as an overreach by prosecutors.

Menendez’s legal team vowed to appeal the decision, asserting that he had “given his life to his country and to his community.” They also expressed regret over the ruined political career of the former senator.

This is not the first time Menendez has faced legal issues. He was previously charged with bribery in 2017, but that case ended in a mistrial. Additionally, the Senate Ethics Committee had reprimanded him for failing to disclose expensive gifts from a donor.

Menendez remains free on bond as he appeals his 15 felony convictions, which include bribery, obstruction of justice, and acting as a foreign agent. His wife’s trial is set to begin on March 18, with prosecutors expecting Uribe’s testimony to play a pivotal role in the case.