NEWARK, N.J. _ David Wildstein, the self-proclaimed architect of the George Washington Bridge lane-closure scheme and former ally of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, won't spend a day in prison for his crimes.
A federal judge on Wednesday sentenced Wildstein, Christie's No. 2 executive appointee at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey from 2010 to 2013, to three years' probation and a $10,000 fine. He must also serve 500 hours of community service.
Prosecutors had recommended probation, citing Wildstein's extensive cooperation and saying they would not have been able to prosecute anyone without his help. He pleaded guilty in 2015 to two felony conspiracy charges.
Wildstein, 55, was the government's chief witness in last fall's trial of two other former Christie aides: Bridget Anne Kelly, the governor's former deputy chief of staff, and Bill Baroni, the governor's former top executive appointee at the Port Authority.
The bistate agency owns and operates the region's bridges, tunnels and airports.
A federal jury in November found Kelly and Baroni guilty of seven felony counts each. U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton sentenced Kelly to 18 months in prison and Baroni to two years. They are appealing their guilty verdicts.
During eight days on the witness stand, Wildstein testified that he, Kelly and Baroni conspired to close access lanes from Fort Lee, Bergen County, to the bridge for four days in September 2013. Their goal: to punish Fort Lee's Democratic mayor for his refusal to endorse the Republican governor's re-election campaign that year.
Then they promoted a sham story of a traffic study to cover up the bridge plot, prosecutors said.
The bridge scandal tarred Christie's reputation and dealt a serious blow to his presidential ambitions.
