Disgraced former New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez began serving an 11-year prison sentence at a federal facility in Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, following his July conviction on 16 counts of corruption. The 71-year-old Democrat was found guilty of accepting gold bars, large sums of cash, and luxury gifts in exchange for political favors that benefited three New Jersey businessmen and the governments of Egypt and Qatar. Dubbed “Gold Bar Bob,” Menendez delayed his incarceration to spend time with his wife, Nadine, who was also convicted in the bribery scheme and is set to begin her sentence in September. The couple was last seen publicly visiting a credit union in New Jersey.

A 2022 federal raid uncovered nearly $480,000 in cash, gold bars valued at $150,000, and a luxury vehicle in Menendez’s home. Prosecutors alleged he used his Senate position to secure $300 million in military aid for Egypt, manipulate U.S. foreign policy, and obstruct investigations involving his co-defendants: Wael Hana, Fred Daibes, and Jose Uribe. Despite seeking clemency from former President Donald Trump and trying to postpone his sentence, Menendez was ordered to report to the facility’s minimum-security camp due to the nonviolent nature of his offenses. Once seen as an embodiment of the American Dream, Menendez’s reputation has been overshadowed by scandal, with his name now synonymous with high-level political corruption and the infamous gold bars found in his closet.