NEW YORK, US - A NEW Jersey man who pleaded guilty to stealing a Lexus belonging to billionaire New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg was sentenced to 15 years behind bars, court officials said on Wednesday.

Shawn Young, 36, attacked a 62-year-old Bloomberg assistant in the mayor's 2001 gray Lexus in Hackensack, New Jersey, in 2006, after he refused to give the man money for bus fare, assistant Bergen County prosecutor Pia Perez said.

The car was discovered abandoned two hours later by police, Mr Perez said.

Mr Bloomberg has been the victim of several crimes since taking office in 2001. In 2007, two New Jersey men were charged separately with stealing more than US$400,000 (S$540,000) from Mr Bloomberg's personal bank account.

Young's accomplice, Evelyn Moreta, 19, was sentenced to 10 years. Lawyers for both were unavailable for comment after the sentences were handed down on Tuesday.

Mr Bloomberg is the founder of the Bloomberg LP financial news and data service. -- REUTERS