A former Chicago City Hall patronage chief convicted of lying about his role in a scheme to hire politically connected campaign workers was sentenced Thursday to 30 months in federal prison.

Former Chicago Streets and Sanitation Commissioner Al Sanchez, who co-founded the Hispanic Democratic Organization, was an officer in a corrupt army who oversaw a clout heavy hiring process that was “rotten at the core,” said federal Judge Robert Gettleman Thursday.

Prosecutors say Sanchez, 63, negotiated with top former members of Mayor Richard Daley’s administration to hire members of the HDO, a pro-Daley political organization, in exchange for political support.

“I just don’t think it’s fair,” Sanchez said after Thursday’s hearing. He said he plans to appeal his sentence.