NEW YORK — A former government official once lauded as a Sept. 11 hero was convicted today of taking bribes to let an asbestos-cleanup company overcharge for work on the World Trade Center cleanup.

A Manhattan jury convicted Mark Jakubek, a former Port Authority of New York and New Jersey field operations manager, and a former colleague of charges including enterprise corruption, the state's version of racketeering.

Jakubek, 50, and ex-colleague Anthony Fontanetta, 61, face mandatory prison terms of at least a year after being convicted in the first trial from the 5-year-old indictment. Ten other people have pleaded guilty.

The two remain free while their lawyers plan arguments challenging the convictions. No sentencing date has been set, but they are due in court for a status update Jan. 20.

Jakubek was hailed for helping rescue people from an elevator during the 2001 terror attacks. Two years later, he pleaded guilty in a separate bribery case.

In 2004, Jakubek and Fontanetta were accused of taking sports and concert tickets and other bribes to let Specialty Service Contracting get away with padding its bills.