Another guilty plea in Jack Abramoff scandal

Tuesday, February 27, 2007  

A former aide to former Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio) will be joining his boss in prison for his role in the Jack Abramoff scandal.

William Heaton, 28, admitted that he accepted gifts, gambling chips and several trips from Abramoff in exchange for legislative favors for Abramoff's tribal clients. As chief of staff, he falsified financial disclosure documents for Ney and helped his ex-boss hide $5,000 in British pounds in a safe in Ney's Capitol Hill office. Ney had apparently gotten the money during a gambling trip to London.

Heaton is the ninth person to be convicted in the Abramoff investigation. He faces 18 months to two years under a plea deal with federal prosecutors but the judge in the case warned him that she could impose a tougher sentence.

Get the Story:
Former Aide to Ex-Congressman Ney Pleads Guilty in Abramoff Case (The Washington Post 2/27)
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Former Ney aide pleads guilty in bribery case (AP 2/27)

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