Judge chides former NJ senator for giving up his impartiality, sentences him to 4 years

Ex-NJ state senator gets 4 years for corruption

TRENTON, N.J. — A former New Jersey state senator convicted of bribery and pension fraud has been sentenced to four years in federal prison.

Wayne Bryant choked up in court while apologizing for his crimes at his sentencing Friday.

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

But Wolfson also took into account his career accomplishments. Bryan had faced up to 10 years behind bars.

Bryant was found guilty in November of accepting a low-show job with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in exchange for steering millions of grants to the school. Jurors also said he used the job and others to nearly triple his state pension.