Former Don Young aide sentenced in Abramoff scandal

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Source: mcclatchy dc

WASHINGTON – A former aide to Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, was sentenced Monday for his role in the circle of corruption that surrounded disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

U.S. District Judge Ellen Huvelle on Monday sentenced Mark Zachares to four years of probation and 200 hours of community service. He must also serve 12 weekends in jail and pay a $4,000 fine. Zachares has already surrendered his law license.

Zachares, a former University of Alaska Anchorage basketball player who served as special counsel to Young, R-Alaska, pleaded guilty in 2007 to accepting gifts from Abramoff and his cronies in return for providing inside information. His sentencing was delayed while he worked with federal authorities, but on Monday a prosecutor told the judge there was nothing left for Zachares to cooperate with.

Although court documents show that Zachares provided substantial help to the FBI in criminal investigations of two congressmen -- including one in which he secretly recorded a conversation at the request of agents -- the information he provided did not lead to any convictions.


Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/11/22/104147/former-don-young-aide-sentenced.html