Cohen wept in federal court in Manhattan as he faced sentencing on nine criminal charges

He must report to jail in upstate New York on March 6 

A tearful Cohen pushed back at President Trump for calling him 'weak' 

His lawyer repeatedly invoked Trump while arguing against a long sentence

He went to court Wednesday morning accompanied by his wife and children

The Southern District of New York in a court filing said he deserved a 'substantial' sentence and proposed he face up to five years in jail

Special Counsel Mueller's team noted his cooperation with the Russia probe

He pleaded guilty to making false statements to Congress about his 2016 pursuit of a Trump tower deal in Moscow and contacts with Russians about it 

Also pleaded guilty to campaign finance and bank fraud related to $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels 

Testified he was 'directed' by Donald Trump to make payment to Daniels

Cohen once said he would 'take a bullet' for Trump but ended up cooperating facing jail time and massive legal fees

Story Daniels lawyer Michael Avenatti showed up for sentencing and said Cohen 'deserves every day' of his sentence

A federal judge on Thursday sentenced longtime Donald Trump lawyer Michael Cohen to three years in jail for a series of crimes to which he pleaded guilty, saying his cooperation with the Russia probe 'does not wipe the slate clean.'

Cohen, a lawyer, 'should have known better,' said the judge, following dramatic courtroom arguments that featured repeated references to President Trump – including his attacks on Cohen as 'weak' and a 'rat' and Cohen's own explanation of why he decided to provide information against him.

Cohen, who shed tears in the courtroom as he sought leniency, won't have to report to jail until March 6, and could still get a further discount to his time if he cooperates.

An anguished Cohen pleaded with a Judge William Pauley to be able to stay out of jail, and expressed regret for trying to cover up former employer Donald Trump's 'dirty deeds.'

He also will have to hand over to the government nearly $2 million in combined restitution and fines, having dodged taxes while assembling real estate and taxi business holdings as a top hand to the Trump Organization.

He must report to the federal prison in Otisville, New York, which has a medium security prison as well as a minimum security satellite camp and which caters to many Jewish inmates from New York City and those with Kosher needs. 

The tearful longtime Donald Trump lawyer took on Trump – who he once said he would 'take a bullet for' – in emotional terms for having called him 'weak' in an attack last month.