Former U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez is ready to report back to federal jail on Tuesday to start serving an 11-year sentence for accepting bribes of gold and money and performing as an agent of Egypt. The New Jersey Democrat has been mocked for the crimes as “Gold Bar Bob,” in line with his personal lawyer.
Menendez’s legal professionals revealed in court docket papers final month that he’s anticipated to be housed at a facility in jap Pennsylvania that has each a medium-security jail and a minimum-security jail camp. Given the white-collar nature of his crimes, it is seemingly he’ll find yourself within the camp.
The jail, the Federal Correctional Establishment, Schuylkill, is about 118 miles west of New York Metropolis. It is residence to about 1,200 inmates, together with ex-New York Metropolis organized crime boss James Coonan and former fuel station proprietor Gurmeet Singh Dhinsa, whom the New York Publish dubbed “Gas-Station Gotti” for his ruthless, violent methods.
Menendez, 71, maintains his innocence. Final week, a federal appeals court docket rejected his last-ditch effort to stay free on bail whereas he fights to get his bribery conviction overturned. A 3-judge panel on the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court docket of Appeals denied his bail movement.
Pleading for leniency, Menendez instructed a decide at his sentencing in January: “I am far from a perfect man. I have made more than my share of mistakes and bad decisions. I’ve done far more good than bad.”
Menendez has additionally gave the impression to be angling for a pardon from President Donald Trump, aligning himself with the Republican’s criticisms of the judicial system, notably in New York Metropolis.
“This process is political and it’s corrupted to the core. I hope President Trump cleans up the cesspool and restores the integrity to the system,” Menendez instructed reporters after his January sentencing.
Menendez resigned final yr after he was convicted of promoting his clout for bribes. FBI brokers discovered $480,000 in money in his residence, a few of it stuffed inside boots and jacket pockets, together with gold bars price an estimated $150,000 and a luxurious convertible within the storage.
In change, prosecutors stated, Menendez carried out corrupt favors for New Jersey enterprise house owners, together with defending them from felony investigations, serving to in enterprise offers with international powers and assembly with Egyptian intelligence officers earlier than serving to Egypt entry $300 million in U.S. army help.
Menendez, who as soon as served as chair of the Senate Overseas Relations Committee, resigned his seat a month after his conviction. He had been within the Senate since 2006.
Two enterprise house owners additionally have been convicted final yr together with Menendez.
His spouse, Nadine Menendez, was convicted in April of teaming up along with her husband to simply accept bribes from the enterprise house owners. Her sentencing has been set for Sept. 11.
At his sentencing, Menendez’s legal professionals described how the son of Cuban immigrants emerged from poverty to turn into “the epitome of the American Dream” — rising from mayor of Union Metropolis, New Jersey, to many years in Congress — earlier than his conviction “rendered him a national punchline.”
“Despite his decades of service, he is now known more widely as Gold Bar Bob,” protection lawyer Adam Payment instructed the decide.
