The former Jersey City council president was sentenced to 30 months in prison Monday in connection with the biggest corruption sting in New Jersey history.
Mariano Vega, 61, was sentenced to jail time by U.S. District Court Judge Jose Linares on the conspiracy to commit extortion charges.
Vega admitted taking more than $30,000 in illegal campaign contributions from an FBI cooperating witness. That witness, Solomon Dwek, helped the FBI catch dozens of dirty politicians and community leaders across the state. Dwek himself is a convicted felon.
NBC New York first broke the story of the biggest corruption raid ever in New Jersey. The FBI had made so many arrests they had to use buses to carry the suspects off to court.
U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman said Vega will have to pay $20,000 in fines in addition to his prison sentence.
Nearly 50 people were arrested in connection with the corruption investigation. Officials said more than two dozen have already pleaded guilty.
