Craig Carton, the former morning sports talk show host who was convicted of carrying out a multimillion-dollar fake ticket scam, was sentenced Friday to 3 1/2 years in prison followed by three years probation.

Prosecutors had sought up to seven years behind bars after a jury found Carton guilty on all counts at trial last year.

At the time, Carton said he was disappointed with the verdict, though he respected it. 

"I need to let it sink in now," Carton said. "I'm going to go home and hug my kids and let my lawyers deal with the rest of it."

His lawyers said they planned to appeal the Manhattan federal court jury verdict. Sentencing was set for Feb. 27 on charges of conspiracy, wire fraud and securities fraud.

The verdict came after five hours of deliberations.

Carton, 49, of Manhattan, was ex-NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason's on-air partner for years on WFAN's "Boomer and Carton" show. He left the program after his arrest last year.

He was accused of swindling investors in a ticket reselling business.

Prosecutors said he spent investor money on personal expenses, including gambling debts and landscaping bills.

Carton's lawyers argued during a week-and-a-half long trial that Carton was no crook and that he was victimized by his former business partner, Joseph Meli.

Meli was sentenced to 6 1/2 years in prison earlier this year after pleading guilty in a $100 million ticket reselling business fraud.

Prosecutors said the former co-host of WFAN's "Boomer and Carton" show had misappropriated at least $5.6 million.