Judge, former lawmaker get prison in N.Y.

NEW YORK, June 7 (UPI) -- A former New York state Supreme Court judge and a former state assemblyman have been sentenced to prison on corruption charges.

Former Assemblyman Clarence Norman surrendered to serve a two- to six-year prison term, but former Justice Gerald Garson's three- to 10-year sentence was stayed pending an appeal after the former officials' court hearings Wednesday, The New York Times reported.

"Two powerful men, Gerald Garson and Clarence Norman Jr., used the political and judicial systems to line their own pockets and the pockets of their cronies," Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes said. "It's fair to say that those who seek to make corrupt deals are constantly looking over their shoulders."

Norman, who used to lead the powerful Brooklyn Democratic Party, was convicted of extortion, soliciting illegal contributions from a lobbyist and stealing, the Times reported. His prison sentence could be extended to as long as nine years by sentences that are under appeal, the newspaper said.

Garson was convicted of accepting bribes and official misconduct.