Sheldon Silver served as one of the most powerful men in New York State for two decades.<br />On Tuesday, a judge ordered he serve the next 12 years in prison.<br />The allegedly adulterous ex-State Assembly Speaker, convicted of twin corruption schemes that earned him $4 million, was labeled by Manhattan Federal Court Judge Valerie Caproni as one of the most corrupt elected officials the state has ever seen.<br />She also ordered Silver to pay back more than $5 million.<br />Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Cohen asked Caproni to hit Silver with a serious sentence, condemning that his actions eroded public trust in government.
