Former District Attorney Seth Williams, a career prosecutor who chased down municipal corruption but whose tenure as Philadelphia’s first black DA was mired in a corruption scandal, was sentenced Tuesday to five years in prison for accepting a bribe.

The two-term Democrat didn’t speak during the hearing and instead had his attorney read a statement in which he apologized and said he had failed the people of Philadelphia.

“Rather than holding myself to a higher standard, I squandered that trust placed in me,” the statement said. As his lawyer read it, Williams’ face grew flush and he wiped away tears with a tissue.

U.S. District Judge Paul Diamond said the 50-year-old Williams “humiliated” his office and the city by selling it to “parasites.”