Lobbyist Abramoff faces more charges; guilty plea expected

WASHINGTON - Lobbyist Jack Abramoff will plead guilty to federal charges in Washington and Miami, clearing the way for him to cooperate in a massive government investigation of influence peddling involving members of Congress, lawyers said today. Prosecutors were filing conspiracy, fraud and tax evasion charges against the embattled lobbyist, a Justice Department official said. Abramoff was scheduled to appear at a hearing in U.S. District Court here later today, said department spokesman Bryan Sierra. Abramoff was expected to plead guilty to three charges as part of his agreement. Abramoff was then to plead guilty to two criminal charges in Florida stemming from a 2000 purchase of a fleet of gambling boats, said Neal Sonnett, his attorney