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Former Greenberg Traurig lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty in Miami federal court Wednesday to two felony counts of wire and mail fraud.

When asked by U.S. District Judge Paul C. Huck whether he was guilty, Abramoff replied, "Yes, sir," but he did not say anything else. He and his Miami attorney, Neal Sonnett, sneaked out a side door to elude dozens of reporters and camera crews.

Huck set a March 16 sentencing date for Abramoff, who potentially faces 70-87 months in prison for faking a $23 million wire transfer in the purchase of the Dania Beach, Fla.-based SunCruz Casinos gambling fleet from South Florida businessman Gus Boulis, who was murdered several months after the purchase.

On Tuesday, the former top Washington, D.C., lobbyist pleaded guilty in a Washington federal courtroom to three felony counts of fraud, public corruption and tax evasion.

Prosecutors have targeted at least a dozen members of Congress, legislative aides and lobbyists in the Washington probe. Abramoff is expected to be a key witness in what some political experts say could be one of the biggest congressional corruption cases in U.S. history.

He faces a maximum of 30 years in prison on those charges. But his total sentence could be greatly reduced depending on his cooperation in the political corruption investigation. According to the Miami plea agreement, the government will recommend that Abramoff serve any sentence concurrently with the one he receives in Washington.

Interim U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta appeared at the courthouse Wednesday and was asked whether there would be any other indictments related to the Abramoff cases. He said only that the investigation was continuing.

http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1136384631603