Former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL) was sentenced to 30 months in prison Wednesday for stealing $750,000 from his own campaign funds.
Additionally, the once-promising Democratic politician will have two years of supervised release and will have to serve 500 hours of community service.
Jackson's wife Sandra Jackson, a former Chicago alderman, will serve one year in jail after pleading guilty to a tax charge related to the misuse of his funds.
They will have to pay back the $750,000 they stole, but no other fines.
Before hearing his sentence, Jesse Jackson Jr. openly wept in court.
"I let a lot of people down," he said, apologizing to the public and his family. He asked to be sent to prison in Alabama, "so I can be as far away from everyone."
As he stepped into his car after the sentencing hearing, Jackson Jr. said:
"I still believe in forgiveness. I believe in redemption. Today I manned up and tried to accept responsibility for the errors of my ways, and I still believe in the resurrection."
His father, Rev. Jesse Jackson, also cried in court, wiping tears from his eyes, while his mother Jacqueline Jackson sat stoically in the court room.
Jackson pleaded guilty to conspiracy after he spent $750,000 in campaign funds on personal expenses like a gold-plated Rolex and fur capes for his wife.
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