US senator Bob Menendez guilty on charges including bribery and acting as a foreign agent

New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez was convicted of all charges including bribery and acting as a foreign agent for Egypt, leveraging his past position as chairman for the Foreign Relations Committee.

The US political figure stood accused of engaging in a years-long foreign corruption scheme that yielded him and his wife gold bars, money and a new car. The eight-week trial in a New York federal courtroom saw witnesses and prosecutors reveal details of the New Jerseyan's plot to leverage businessman in his home town with favors and promised riches.

The jury went through three days of deliberations before delivering their verdict Wednesday. Menendez was convicted of all 18 counts brought against him, including acting as a foreign agent. He could spend up to 222 years in prison for his actions.

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The New Jerseyan leveraged his former position of Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman to assist in a contract negotiation between one man and Egyptian officials, prosecutors argued at trial. They also cited his abuse of his status as a senior senator to aid his accomplice who was subject to a state investigation into insurance fraud.

The defense argued Menendez did it out of necessity, claiming the Democrat was in danger of going without, so he "stored" gold and hundred of thousands of dollars in cash at his home.

The left-wing senator, along with his wife Nadine who was said to have accompanied him while he met with high-ranking Egyptian officials, have been under investigation for allegedly conspiring with foreign powers in exchange for money, solid gold bars and a luxury car.

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The Menendezs have reportedly been accepting bribes for the last five years to provide favors to three other business men who are also facing prosecution.

An FBI raid of the Menendez residence uncovered shocking evidence that suggested the senator was wrongfully accepting bribes. Officials found 13 gold bars, almost $500,000 in cash and a convertible Mercedes-Benz. Nadine Menendez will be tried on a separate trial as she was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.

Two of Menendez's clients who are being tried, halal meat mogul Wael Hana and real estate developer Fred Daibes, pleaded not guilty. Former insurance broker Jose Uribe pleaded guilty in the case earlier this year and subsequently testified against the senior New Jersey senator saying he had bribed the Menendezs.

"I agreed with Nadine Menendez and other people to provide a car for Nadine in order to get the power and influence of Mr. Menendez," Uribe told the court.