The former deputy mayor of a New York suburb has been sentenced to three years in prison for accepting a $10,000 bribe to back a real estate project.

Joseph Desmaret, who was deputy mayor of Spring Valley when he was arrested in 2013, also has to forfeit the money.

Desmaret was among six politicians named in an indictment that also alleged a scheme to buy a spot on the New York City mayoral ballot for state Sen. Malcolm Smith.

Smith was convicted in February of bribery and extortion and will be sentenced next month. In all, four politicians were convicted and two, including Desmaret, pleaded guilty.

Desmaret was sentenced Thursday in White Plains. He could have been sentenced to as much as nine years behind bars.

(AP)