Former House Majority LeaderTom Delay Sentenced to Three Years For Money Laundering

Ex U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay was sentenced on Monday, by U.S. District Judge Pat Priest in Austin, Texas, to three years in prison for his role in a conspiracy to commit money laundering.

DeLay who was once considered the most powerful and feared Republican in the Congress, argued in court that the charges against him stemmed from a political vendetta by his foes and enemies.

Judge Priest ordered the sentence after a jury convicted DeLay in November of his involvement in a scheme to funnel corporate money to Texas political candidates illegally in 2002.

DeLay, 63, was also convicted of money laundering, but Priest sentenced the former political power broker only on the conspiracy count. DeLay was given 10 years probation on the money-laundering conviction. He had faced up to life in prison.

"This is an abuse of power. It's a miscarriage of justice, and I still maintain that I am innocent," DeLay told reporters following his conviction.

DeLay's attorneys are appealing his conviction.