Former County Commissioner William Cotton was sentenced Tuesday afternoon to three years in federal prison.
He must report to prison by June 5.
Cotton, who was convicted of accepting bribes in the FBI's "Operation Tennessee Waltz" sting, also must pay the FBI $9,500 in restitution.
He will be on probation for three years after getting out of prison.
Judge Allan Edgar said, "The word must go out that if public officials are corrupt, they will suffer punishment."
He said such actions cause the public to lose confidence in their government.