Former Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora has been sentenced to 28 years in prison.

U.S. District Judge Sara Lioi handed down the sentence this afternoon following nearly two days of haggling by defense and prosecuting attorneys over how much Dimora’s nearly three dozen counts of corruption cost taxpayers. She settled on the price: $451,000 and then heard more testimony from character witnesses who described Dimora as a great family man and public servant.

It’s a theme that Dimora included in his own statement today. He said he helped constituents including students, veterans and people looking for housing. He said he always followed staff recommendations when it came to awarding county contracts, and picked the best and lowest bidder.

“I was not a part of ripping off people,” he insisted. “It didn’t matter to me that someone seeking business was a friend or gave me a donation.”

He also said he had “no regret for what I did,” and he insisted that “Clearly, at no time did I ever perform an official act for anyone who gave me anything of  value.”

And, choking up, Dimora insisted, “I love my wife very much.”