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Bridgeport's former police chief AJ Perez was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison on Monday, April 12.
“I hold no malice to anyone, I did this to myself, I panicked,” Perez told U.S. District Judge Kari Dooley during his sentencing hearing.
Perez, 65, was accused along with his former personnel director David Dunn of rigging the police chief's exam so Perez would secure the job in 2018.
In addition to a year and a day in prison, the judge ordered Perez to serve four years of supervised release and to pay a $7,500 fine.
He must pay his part of the $299,407 in restitution to the city and do 100 hours of community service.
Perez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and making false statements to the FBI.
At the time of the police chief's exam, Perez had been serving as acting police chief.
Perez was selected as chief and awarded a five-year contract.
His attorney had asked the judge for home confinement because he said the former chief is susceptible to serious COVID-19 complications and is suffering financial hardship.
Perez is to surrender to federal prison authorities on Monday, May 24.
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