Former Sen. Wayne Bryant gets four years in prison for bribery, fraud (Another corrupt NJ Democrat)

NJ.com ^ | 7/24/09 | Mary Fuchs/

[LdSentinal]

TRENTON -- Former Sen. Wayne Bryant, once a titan of New Jersey politics, was sentenced to four years in federal prison today for trading on his clout as budget chairman to obtain a pension-padding job.

"I cannot express how deeply sorry I am for the scorn my actions have caused," said Bryant, who choked up while apologizing for his crimes in Trenton today. Bryant will also pay $113,167 in restitution to UMDNJ.

A jury convicted Bryant, a Democrat from Camden County, of 12 counts of pension fraud and bribery eight months ago, in a high profile trial the exposed a secretive and easily manipulated state budget process. Bryant helped steer $10.5 million in state grants to his employer, a school within the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.

U.S. District Court Judge Freda Wolfson said Bryant gave up his impartiality as a legislator when he accepted money, even if he intended to help his constituents with it.

"It was the manner by which it was undertaken to subvert the system," said Wolfson.

Wolfson also chided Bryant for his "low-show" job at UMDNJ which raised his pension to from $21,000 to $80,000 a year.

[Frank_2001]

“Corrupt NJ Democrat”?
That’s like saying “heavy fat man”. No need for redundancy;)

[Doogle]

..yeah but at least he wasn't packing a liver

[Tupelo]

Holy Hell freezing over Batman!
In only the third (3rd) paragraph the crooks political party was identified. In fact it was only the third sentence.
Holy Gladiola!

[Free_SJersey]

In my mind, crimes like this committed by elected or appointed officials should be capital crime and I don't mean lethal injection. Nothing short of drawing and quartering would suffice to the point where the punishment fits the crime.

A robber robs a one man and gets five years. One victim sees justice served. Slime like Bryant commit these crimes and the victims are society as a whole and the very foundations of our nation.

At least he's sorry for the "uproar this has caused". Note that he didn't say he was sorry he did it. And his supporters crack me up. He lost his 37 year old son- so what? Who hasn't lost someone they love? They state that he's done so much good. Reminds me of Stockholm Syndrome.

Four years sentence-and he still gets his triple figure pension.

[JerseyHighlander]

While under investigation, and everyone who knew anything about it knew Bryant was going down, Bryant ended up being the commencement speaker at a college graduation of a relative of mine.

IT was surreal listening to Bryant talk platitudes about doing good, a life of public service, etc, while half the crowd knew he was one foot in the hoosegow already.

[Coleus]

only 4 years? what a gift, he must have talked.