Abramoff probe nets another indictment

WASHINGTON, March 6 (UPI) -- A former U.S. House employee was indicted Friday on corruption charges as part of a probe of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, the Justice Department said.

Fraser Verrusio was charged with conspiring to accept an illegal gratuity, accepting an illegal gratuity, and making a false statement by failing to report gifts he received from a lobbyist and the lobbyist's client on his 2003 financial disclosure form, the department said in a news release

Verrusio was policy director for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure at the time he allegedly received an all-expense paid trip Game One of the 2003 Baseball World Series, and other perks, then falsely reported them, the department said. The grand jury's indictment also named lobbyists Todd Boulanger and James Hirni, and Trevor Blackann, who was a legislative assistant to two Missouri Republican senators, as a co-conspirator.

Blackann, Boulanger and Hirni have pleaded guilty for their roles, the department said.

The case is part of the ongoing investigation into the activities of Abramoff and his associates, the department said. Eighteen individuals, including lobbyists and public officials, have pleaded guilty or are awaiting trial as a result of the investigation, including Abramoff.