The former CEO of a prominent and politically connected Jewish charity in New York City was sentenced to prison on Wednesday for his role in stealing over $9 million from his anti-poverty non-profit.

In April, William E. Rapfogel, who served as the executive director of the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty for two decades, agreed to a plea deal and paid $3 million in restitution in exchange for a shorter sentence of 40 months to 10 years, reports the New York Times.

The 59-year-old ex-CEO previously pleaded guilty on charges of grand larceny and admitted to helping to steal more than $9 million with his comrades in a decade-long scam.

"I deeply regret harming the organization that I worked so hard to build and that I hurt and disappointed many people, especially the clients, the staff and the board of Met Council," said Rapfogel at the New York Supreme Court in Manhattan, according to the New York Daily News.

"I have tried to make amends. But I also recognize that what I did was seriously wrong and that I will continue to pay a heavy price for my actions. I am terribly sorry," he added.

Rapfogel was hired as the executive director of the charity popularly known as Met Council in 1992 and earned $340,000 a year. However, he and several conspirators were convicted of overcharging the charity for insurance in order to pocket the surplus.

"He conspired with others to steal over $9 million, and personally stole over $1 million, from the people who needed it most, to benefit himself and his lifestyle," Assistant Attorney General Gary Fishman said at the sentencing, reports the Associated Press.

Rapfogel allocated $27,000 of that money to pay his home contractor, while he stashed more than $400,000 in his house.

Insurance company owner Joseph Ross and former Met Council Executive Director David Cohen also pleaded guilty for their involvement in the plot.

Prosecutors said that the three used to use the stolen money to make donations to candidates who would help the Met Council.

Rapfogel's wife Judy, who is Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver's chief of staff, was not accused of being involved in his scheme.

Rapfogel was fired last August after an anonymous tip led to an internal investigation that discovered that he and the organization's insurance broker were padding insurance payments and splitting the difference.