Decorated Navy aviator and former San Diego Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham, who was later disgraced by a bribery conviction, died Wednesday at the age of 83.

According to numerous reports, he died at a hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas, from an undisclosed illness.

Before going into politics, Cunningham flew an F-4 Phantom fighter jet for the U.S Navy during the Vietnam War. He was sometimes credited as the inspiration for Maverick, Tom Cruise's character in the film "Top Gun," though the movie's producers have rebuffed the claim.

Cunningham was sentenced in 2006 to eight years and four months in prison for his guilty pleas to conspiracy and tax evasion for taking $2.4 million in bribes in return for unduly influencing the awarding of Defense Department contracts.

He was released

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