Ex-aide to US lawmaker expected to plead guilty

WASHINGTON, May 8 (Reuters) A former top aide to Ohio Republican Rep. Bob Ney is expected to plead guilty today in connection with corruption investigation of lobbyist Jack Abramoff, a source familiar with the case said.

The source said Ney's former chief of staff, Neil Volz, is expected to plead guilty at a federal court hearing to conspiracy to commit fraud and to violating the one-year ban on lobbying after leaving congressional employment.

Ney has been one of the Republican lawmakers whose activities have been investigated as part of the US Justice Department's probe.

Ney, who faces a tough re-election fight, has denied that he has ever done anything illegal, improper or unethical.

Although Ney has long been investigated, the scheduled guilty plea by Volz will mark the first time that one of his former aides has pleaded guilty.

Abramoff and two former aides to Texas Republican Rep. Tom DeLay previously have been among those who have pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate in the investigation that has rattled top Republicans in Congress.

REUTERS DKS PM1928