WASHINGTON, Feb. 10 (UPI) -- A jury convicted a former U.S. House staffer Thursday on corruption charges related to his accepting an all-expenses-paid trip to a 2003 World Series game.
The federal jury in Washington found Fraser Verrusio guilty of conspiring to accept an illegal gratuity, accepting an illegal gratuity and making a false statement by not reporting his gifts from a lobbyist and the lobbyist's client on his 2003 financial disclosure statement, the Justice Department said in a release.
"Mr. Verrusio's conduct cuts against the thousands of government workers who live their lives by the ethical code they pledged to uphold," said James McJunkin, assistant director of the FBI's Washington field office. "This case of public corruption serves as a reminder that misuse of position extends to all levels of government service. As seen here, accepting sporting tickets is influence peddling, no matter in what arena it occurs."
Evidence and testimony presented at trial indicated Verrusio and Trevor Blackann, a legislative assistant to a U.S. senator, accepted an all-expenses-paid trip to Game One of the 2003 World Series from a lobbyist and a company. Evidence also established one lobbyist who helped arrange for the trip worked with former lobbyist Jack Abramoff, whose firm also represented the company.
