Associated Press.

Suspended Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in prison for influence peddling.

U.S. District Judge James W. Kehoe rejected pleas that Martinez, 42, be sentenced to community service. Kehoe permitted Martinez to remain free on $100,000 bond pending an appeal.

Martinez was convicted in March of six counts of conspiracy, extortion and racketeering.

Martinez, who served 10 years as mayor, was one of the rising stars in the Florida Democratic Party and was considered a possible candidate for Congress when he was indicted in 1990. He was accused of extorting almost $1 million in exchange for favors on zoning and other city matters.

Prosecutor Steven Chaykin asked for at least 10 years in prison. "This is a sophisticated politician. He can`t stand here and claim that he was naive," Chaykin said.