NEW YORK (AP) —  Former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has been sentenced to 12 years in prison in a prosecution that exposed corruption of state government at the highest levels.

A stern Judge Valerie Caproni sentenced him Tuesday. It represents a stunning and steep fall for the Manhattan Democrat who was one of New York's three most powerful political figures for two decades.

The 72-year-old lower Manhattan resident was convicted last year in a $5 million corruption case. A jury concluded he traded favors to enrich himself and then lied about it.

His former Senate counterpart — Republican ex-Majority Leader Dean Skelos — is due to be sentenced this month. Skelos was convicted for using his position to arrange payments and a job for his son.

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