Jay Clayton, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York | Department of Justice
Nadine Menendez, the wife of former Senator Robert Menendez, was sentenced to 54 months in prison for her involvement in a bribery and foreign influence scheme. The sentencing took place following her conviction on April 21, 2025, after a five-week jury trial before U.S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton stated, “The defendant and her partner in crime, former Senator Robert Menendez, engaged in the most brazen form of public corruption—gold bars, cash, and a luxury car in exchange for a Senator’s power. Today’s sentence sends an important message: our elected officials are not for sale.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Nadine Menendez played a central role in connecting Robert Menendez with Wael Hana, a New Jersey businessman with ties to Egyptian officials; Fred Daibes, a real estate developer; and Jose Uribe from the insurance and trucking industry. Between 2018 and 2022, Nadine and Robert Menendez accepted bribes including gold bars, cash totaling over $480,000 found hidden throughout their home by the FBI during a search in June 2022, home furnishings provided by Hana and Daibes, payments toward Nadine’s mortgage, compensation for minimal work positions for Nadine Menendez, as well as a luxury vehicle paid for by Uribe.
In return for these benefits, Robert Menendez allegedly used his position as U.S. Senator from New Jersey—including his leadership roles on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee—to act on behalf of Hana’s business interests and those of Egypt. Actions included attempting to protect Hana's monopoly granted by Egypt through pressure on U.S. Department of Agriculture officials; secretly representing Egyptian interests by ghostwriting letters intended for Senate colleagues; providing non-public information to Egypt; intervening in state criminal investigations involving Uribe; recommending appointments believed favorable to disrupt federal prosecutions involving Daibes; and efforts by Nadine Menendez to obstruct justice during the investigation.
In addition to her prison term, Nadine Menendez was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay forfeiture totaling $922,188.10.
Robert Menendez was convicted alongside Hana and Daibes on July 16, 2024. They received sentences of approximately eleven years (Menendez), more than eight years (Hana), and seven years (Daibes) respectively for similar offenses related to bribery and obstruction of justice.
Jose Uribe previously pleaded guilty under a cooperation agreement covering charges such as conspiracy to commit bribery and wire fraud among others; his sentencing is scheduled for October 9, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton commended the investigative work of the FBI as well as assistance from IRS-Criminal Investigation and support from the Department of Justice’s National Security Division.
The case was prosecuted by members of the Public Corruption Unit within the Southern District of New York.
