Courtesy U.S. Attorney’s office.

Former Councilmember Michael Brown was sentenced to 39 months in prison today for accepting bribes from undercover agents.

Brown, who served on the Council for one term, pleaded guilty to accepting $55,000 from undercover federal agents posing as business people seeking government contracts. This includes $15,000 in $100 bills in a bag, which also contained two Nationals t-shirts and a baseball hat, and $10,000 in $100 bills inside a Washington football team mug.

“I should have resisted the culture of corruption running rampant in our city, and I should have done so steadfastly,” said Brown, the son of former United States Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown, according to the Post’s Mike DeBonis. “My parents raised me better than this, your honor. I should have known better than to put myself in this situation.”

Although not initially, he also admitted to accepting illegal campaign contributions from Jeffrey Thompson, otherwise known as Uncle Earl. Part of his agreement with prosecutors involved cooperation in this corruption investigation.

In addition to prison, Brown will serve 24-months of supervised release and 200 hours of community service.

“Rather than wielding his political power to serve the citizens of the District of Columbia who voted for him, Michael Brown exerted his influence on behalf of purported contractors who were willing to line his pockets with hundred-dollar bills,”Ron Machen, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, said in a statement. “Brown’s decision to auction off the public trust was especially disappointing because of his enormous potential to stand as a bright light for the residents of this city. His term of incarceration will hopefully serve as an admonition to other public officials who are considering betraying their oath of office for fast cash.”