Lawmaker's Career Ends In Disgrace

Rep. Randy Cunningham Pleads Guilty To Graft; Faces 10 Years In Jail

(CBS/AP)  The 33-page guilty plea did not name the alleged conspirators, but details such as business addresses and occupations made some of their identities apparent. One was Mitchell Wade, who was the former president of MZM Inc., a Washington, D.C., firm that does classified intelligence work for the military.

In addition to buying Cunningham's home at an inflated price, Wade let him live rent-free on Wade's yacht, the Duke Stir, at a yacht club. Wade's company, MZM Inc., also donated generously to Cunningham's campaigns.

The documents suggest another conspirator was Brent Wilkes, an associate of Wade's who headed a defense contracting company called ADCS Inc. that also provided campaign cash and favors to Cunningham while reaping valuable contracts.

Another co-conspirator appears to be Thomas Kontogiannis, a New York developer. Cunningham wrote to prosecutors in 2000 on Kontogiannis' behalf when the developer was under investigation in a bribery and kickback scheme involving school computer contracts. Kontogiannis ultimately pleaded guilty to fraud charges.

Attorneys for Wilkes and Wade declined to comment. Kontogiannis' attorney did not return a call.

Cunningham admitted in the plea agreement to receiving $1.025 million to pay down the mortgage of a five-bedroom, eight-bathroom Spanish colonial estate he bought with money from the Del Mar home sale. He also acknowledged receiving $200,000 as a down payment for an Arlington, Va., condo.

Cunningham was allowed to remain free while he awaits sentencing. He also agreed to forfeit his mansion, more than $1.8 million in cash, and antiques and rugs.

He is the first congressman to leave office amid bribery allegations since 2002, when former Rep. James Traficant, D-Ohio, was sentenced to eight years in prison after being convicted of racketeering and accepting bribes.

The plea comes amid a series of GOP scandals: Rep. Tom DeLay of Texas had to step down as majority leader after he was indicted in a campaign finance case; a stock sale by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is being looked at by regulators; and Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff was indicted in the CIA leak case.