Former official guilty in Abramoff-linked case

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A former high-ranking U.S. Justice Department official pleaded guilty on Tuesday to breaking conflict-of-interest laws in doing favors for an associate of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Robert Coughlin, who resigned last year as deputy chief of staff in the department's criminal division, admitted as part of a plea agreement he had lobbied other department officials on issues including a $16 million Indian tribal grant sought by Abramoff's firm and on the potential impact of antiterrorism legislation on a client of the firm.

In exchange, the plea agreement says, Coughlin received thousands of dollars worth of meals and drinks at upscale Washington restaurants, rounds of golf, and sporting and concert tickets while in lower-ranking positions in the department.

"By accepting gifts from and assisting a lobbyist with business before the Department of Justice, Mr. Coughlin violated the public trust and his duty to the department," Justice Department Inspector General Glenn Fine said in a statement.

Coughlin was the third Bush administration official guilty of charges related to the Abramoff influence-peddling scandal, which has also claimed a Republican U.S. congressman and congressional aides. Abramoff pleaded guilty in 2006 to corruption of public officials and fraud.

Coughlin's plea agreement says he never had a "substantive discussion with Abramoff -- identified only as "Lobbyist B" in the documents -- but dealt primarily with "Lobbyist A," a Abramoff subordinate at the firm and longtime friend.

Although he was not directly identified, "Lobbyist B" was described as the head of the government-relations practice at a Washington lobbying firm and the owner of Signatures restaurant in Washington and the Eshkol Academy school, which would be Abramoff.

Likewise, "Lobbyist A" was not identified, but described as a friend of Coughlin dating back to 1992 who had worked with him on Capitol Hill.

The agreement quotes an e-mail from Coughlin providing "Lobbyist A" with the name of "our friendly" in the department who could help with the grant. When the department reversed an initial decision and awarded the full grant, "Lobbyist B" sent a thank-you e-mail under the subject heading "CHA-CHING!!!!!"

Coughlin was released on his own recognizance, pending another hearing on September 18. The plea agreement said the government would recommend a sentence ranging to a maximum of six to 10 months.

(Reporting by Randall Mikkelsen; Editing by Philip Barbara)