Staffer aided Mississippi Choctaws for Abramoff gifts
Ann Copland, a former aide to Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Mississippi), helped the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians in exchange for meals, concert tickets and other gifts from corrupt lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Copland, 52, was responsible for all Choctaw issues. At Abramoff's behest, she would insert or remove language from appropriations bills in order to benefit the tribe.

"She'll get everything she wants," Abramoff said in one e-mail.

But by accepting more than $25,000 in gifts, she violated federal laws. She pleaded guilty to conspiring with others to commit honest services fraud and faces between 10 months to 16 months in prison.

Get the Story:
Rise, fall of former Cochran staffer (The Biloxi Sun Herald 4/18)

Relevant Documents:
US v. Copland (February 19, 2009)

Related Stories:
Editorial: A true case of greed in Washington DC (03/12)
Ex-Senate staffer pleads guilty in Abramoff probe (3/11)
Former Senate staffer charged in Abramoff scandal (2/23)
E-mails disclose stream of gifts to ex-Senate staffer (2/11)
Ex-staffer linked to Abramoff took two salaries (1/30)
Another former Abramoff associate charged (1/29)