Other than family, I have lost everything I ever cared about,” Menendez told the judge. “For someone who spent his entire life in public service, every day I’m awake is a punishment.”

Former U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for his conviction in a scheme that brought him gold bars, cash and a car and what his lawyer says is a new nickname: "gold bar Bob.

The former U.S. senator from New Jersey was convicted in July of accepting bribes including gold bars, cash, and a Mercedes-Benz.

The sentence, handed down in a Manhattan courtroom by U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein, would make Menendez one of just several senators in history to be sent to prison.

Menendez had been convicted of accepting bribes of gold bars and cash while representing New Jersey in the Senate.

Former Democratic New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez was sentenced to 11 years in prison Wednesday for a brazen bribery scheme that saw him put his political influence up for sale in exchange for stockpiles of cash,

Former New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez was sentenced Wednesday on 16 counts of bribery, extortion, conspiracy and obstruction of justice.

Former senator Bob Menendez was sentenced to 11 years in prison for operating what prosecutors called one of the most brazen corruption schemes in the country’s history.

Bob Menendez Plans to Appeal After Being Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison transcript Regardless of the judge’s comments today, I am innocent and I look forward to filing appeals on a whole host of issues.

While reporters waited outside the Manhattan courthouse waiting for word on ex-Sen. Bob Menendez and his co-conspirators' fate, across the river in New Jersey another sentencing took place with no fanfare that ended a chapter related to the bribery of the senator.