A former California staffer for a member of the United States Congress was sentenced Monday to 18 months in prison for bribery and attempted extortion.

Michael Kimbrew, 45, of Santa Clarita, was sentenced for attempting to extort a marijuana dispensary in Compton and threatening to shut it down if the owners didn’t pay him a $5,000 bribe.

“The conviction in this case demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the people of the District to root out public corruption,” said U.S. Attorney Nicola T. Hanna.

In exchange for the payoff he took, Kimbrew promised to use his power as a federal employee and public official to help the shop obtain a legal permit to continue operating, according to federal prosecutors.

Prosecutors say Kimbrew was working in the Compton field office of former Democratic Rep. Janice Hahn in 2015 when he approached a local marijuana shop. Hahn resigned from her Congressional seat when she was elected to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in 2016.

Related: Phone Scams Targeting Santa Clarita, L.A. County Residents Prompt Sheriff’s Warning

According to evidence presented at the trial, Kimbrew claimed to “oversee all activities in Compton” and threatened the shop’s owners, an employee of the shop and later an undercover FBI agent in recorded meetings that he was going to shut down the shop unless he received the bribe.

Kimbrew had no authority over pot shops, which remain illegal in Compton.

During a lunch meeting in Compton, Kimbrew accepted $5,000 in cash hidden inside of a restaurant menu from the undercover agent.

When he pocketed the cash, he pledged his “undying support” to protect the shop, according to federal prosecutors.

In addition to his 18-month prison sentence, Kimbrew must also serve three years of supervised release, as well as pay $5,000 in restitution and $4,000 in fines.

In sentencing documents, government officials argued for imprisonment, citing, among other factors, “the need to send a message to both [Kimbrew] and other public servants that corruption will not be tolerated.”

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.