Clarence Norman Jr. was found guilty in September 2005 of soliciting illegal campaign contributions, larceny and other charges.
Yesterday, the brother surrendered to begin serving a two-to-six-year term. Stripped of his Assembly seat and his license to practice law, Norman had been free on bail pending his appeal.
It was a stark fall from grace for the son of a prominent African-American Brooklyn minister who grew up to practice law, become a 23 year New York state assemblyman, and the first Black Democratic leader from Brooklyn to head one of the largest Democratic Party organizations in the nation.
The case began as an investigation into claims that judgeships were for sale in Brooklyn, where the Democratic nomination is tantamount to winning election, and party leaders like Norman were said to be able to dictate the outcome of judicial elections.
A civil judicial court candidate testified earlier this year that Norman threatened to pull his party's support in 2002 unless she paid his favored consultant thousands of dollars. In the end, however, it was Norman's own campaign finances that caused his downfall.
Beforehand being taken into custody, a jovial Norman, 56, told reporters, "The Lord is with me. My family's with me. I have my health."
Ex-Judge Who Fixed Cases Gets Prison
Speaking of Brooklyn and lawyers doing time, a former state Supreme Court justice who accepted expensive gifts in exchange for helping fix divorce cases was sentenced to three to 10 years in prison.
Gerald Garson, 74, wept like Paris Hilton as he asked for leniency, claiming the cigars, cash and other gifts never influenced his decisions.
But he also admitted that when he saw hidden-camera videos of his dealings, "I was appalled, embarrassed and ashamed of my demeanor."
The sentencing judge had no sympathy for him. "You abdicated your own moral fiber," Justice Jeffrey Berry said before imposing the sentence. "What you brought upon yourself is terrible."