A federal judge today ordered former Congressman Robert W. Ney (R-Ohio) to serve 30 months in prison for accepting gifts, favors and campaign contributions in exchange for official actions, making the six-term congressman the first elected official to be sent to prison in the influence-peddling investigation of lobbyist Jack Abramoff's activities.
U.S. District Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle rejected the recommendations of both prosecutors, who asked for a 27-month term, and Ney's lawyers, who sought leniency. Instead, Huvelle doled out a slightly tougher 2 1/2 -year sentence because, she said, Ney had "seriously betrayed the public's trust."
Huvelle told Ney: "You have a long way to go to make amends for what's happened."
The former chairman of the powerful House Administration Committee, Ney, 52, pleaded guilty in October to one count each of conspiracy and making false statements. He admitted using his elected office to perform official acts in exchange for a series of gifts, including a lavish golf trip to Scotland, skybox tickets to sporting events, meals at lobbyist Abramoff's pricey downtown restaurant and campaign contributions from Abramoff and his clients.
The judge also ordered Ney to serve two years probation after his release from federal prison and pay a $6,000 fine. Huvelle granted a request of defense attorneys that she recommend to the Bureau of Prisons that Ney be sent to a federal prison in Morgantown, West Virginia, where he could participate in an alcohol rehabilitation program.
Let's hope we can get some more congressmen caught in this scandal--and thrown into jail for their crimes.
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