Former Aide to Rep. Ney to Plead Guilty

Former Aide to Rep. Ney to Plead Guilty
Former Aide to Rep. Bob Ney and Abramoff Partner to Plead Guilty, Official Says

By MARK SHERMAN

WASHINGTON May 8, 2006 (AP)— A former congressional aide and business associate of convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff has agreed to plead guilty to charges in connection with the investigation of influence-peddling and public corruption, a federal law enforcement official said Monday.

Neil Volz, who served as chief of staff to Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, was expected to plead guilty Monday to conspiracy charges stemming from his work on Capitol Hill and the lobbying practice he joined after leaving Ney's office.

"The purpose of the conspiracy was for defendant Volz and his co-conspirators to unjustly enrich themselves by corruptly receiving, while public officials, and providing, while lobbyists, a stream of things of value with the intent to influence and reward official acts and attempting to influence members of Congress in violation of the law," according to a criminal information filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Washington.

A plea hearing was scheduled later Monday before U.S. District Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the hearing has not yet taken place.
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