Breaking via Twitter: Former republic Senate Majority Leader, Joe Bruno, convicted for fraud and sentenced to two years in a Federal prison for fraud and abuse of his public office for private gain. From the Albany Times-Union:

U.S. District Court Judge Gary L. Sharpe handed down the long-awaited sentence in a tense courtroom packed with Bruno's supporters and the federal authorities who worked more than four years to convict him.

"The problem with probation is that it doesn't send a message to the public that your criminal conduct here is serious," Sharpe told Bruno.

He also noted a lack of contrition in the lengthy address Bruno delivered before his sentence.

"I know you don't believe you did anything wrong which is why I didn't here one word of contrition here."

And if there is any justice in this world, former Senator Bruno may soon be joined by the current 'majority leader' Pedro Espada, Democrat of The Bronx.