The ugly era of Jack Abramoff — the evil lobbyist — resurfaced Wednesday inside the Beltway.
Kevin A. Ring, 41, a former lobbyist who worked with Abramoff, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in D.C. to 20 months in prison for his role in a scheme to corrupt public officials by providing an illegal stream of things of value, including vacations, employment for a congressman’s wife, meals, drinks, and high-priced tickets to exclusive concerts and sporting events, the Department of Justice announced.
Ring, 41, was convicted last November.
Authorities said the jury found Ring guilty on one count of conspiring to corrupt congressional and executive branch officials by providing things of value to them and their staff members in order to induce or reward those who took official actions benefitting Ring and his clients.
To date, 20 people, including lobbyists and public officials, have pleaded guilty or have been convicted at trial in connection with the investigation into the activities of Abramoff and his associates.
Abramoff pleaded guilty in January 2006 to conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, honest services fraud and tax evasion. He was sentenced in September 2008 to 48 months in prison.
