Rep. Ney faces prison term

WASHINGTON — Ohio Rep. Bob Ney has admitted improperly accepting tens of thousands of dollars worth of trips, meals, sports tickets and casino chips while trying to win favors for a disgraced Washington lobbyist and a foreign aviation company run by a gambler known as "the Fat Man."

Ney, a six-term Republican, had defiantly denied any wrongdoing for months, but he reversed course and agreed to plead guilty in court papers filed Friday. Prosecutors will recommend he serve 27 months in prison. Ney was expected to formally plead guilty in court Oct. 13.

"I have made serious mistakes and am sorry for them," said Ney, 52. "I am very sorry for the pain I have caused to my family, my constituents in Ohio and my colleagues."

Ney became the first lawmaker to admit wrongdoing in the congressional corruption investigation spawned by disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

The lawmaker said he had agreed to use his clout on behalf of Abramoff clients in return for gifts and other largesse that included nights of casino gambling in London and a lavish golf junket to Scotland.

He said alcohol abuse had contributed to a downward spiral in his life, and he had checked himself into a treatment facility. Ney agreed to plead guilty to making false statements and conspiracy to commit fraud, make other false statements and violate U.S. lobbying restrictions. The charges could carry a maximum sentence of up to 10 years and fines of up to $500,000 plus repayment of any improper gifts.

The chairman of Ohio's Republican Party, Bob Bennett, said Ney's apology "rings hollow," and he urged the lawmaker to resign "and begin paying the price for his arrogance and greed."

Ney's attorney, William Lawler, said the congressman, who said last month he wouldn't seek re-election, has no plans to resign.

"He's taking it one step at a time," Lawler said. "Today was a step; the treatment is a step."

Prosecutors said Ney improperly accepted trips to play golf, gamble or vacation in Scotland, New Orleans and New York between August 2002 and August 2003. The total cost of the trips by Ney and others exceeded $170,000, court papers said. Ney also admitted accepting meals and sports and concert tickets for himself and his staff from Abramoff and his lobbyists.

Separately, Ney twice flew to London during 2003 to meet with a foreign businessman who was not identified by name in court papers. The foreign businessman is Fouad al-Zayat, a Syrian-born partner in FN Aviation of Cyprus, according to two people close to the investigation who spoke on condition of anonymity. Al-Zayat is known in Britain as a prominent gambler nicknamed "The Fat Man."

Before becoming ensnared in scandal, Ney headed the House Administration Committee, a post that earned him the nickname "the Mayor of Capitol Hill." The panel controls House office budgets, making it important to other lawmakers.

Material from the Los Angeles Times is included in this report.