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Caught Our Eye

Abramoff probe ends with another conviction

Posted by LegiStorm on Feb. 11, 2011

It seems the scandalous saga of Jack Abramoff has finally reached its end.

Fraser Verrusio was convicted of conspiracy and accepting an illegal gratutity Thursday, the final person to be tried for actions relating to the influence-peddling probe. Twenty-one people were charged in all, and all 21 either pleaded guilty or were convicted by a jury.

Verrusio, a former staffer on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee working for then-chairman Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), argued his acceptance of a trip to the World Series paid for by lobbyists was a common practice and was not illegal. The federal jury didn't agree.

The charges could bring up to a 12 years in prison. Verrusio's sentencing is scheduled for May 6.

UPDATE (4:15 p.m.): The scandal continues to make news today. Abramoff's former business partner, Michael Scanlon, was sentenced to 20 months in prison and three years of probation after release, as well as ordered to pay $20.2 million in restitution.