The federal bribery and gratuity statute, 18 U.S.C. 201, was enacted in 1962 as part of a comprehensive conflict-of-interest legislative reform.

The government argued that Mr. Welch and Mr. Johnson broke federal bribery and fraud laws and that they covered their tracks with sham accounting and secrecy.

IN 1999, it was Paul J. Silvester, the former state treasurer and political acolyte of Gov. John G. Rowland, pleading guilty to federal bribery and racketeering charges.

D1 Ex-Mayor's Trial Begins Opening arguments began in the federal bribery and fraud trial of a former Newark mayor, Kenneth A. Gibson.

In that case, on top of possible exposure for violating federal bribery and gratuities statutes, Governor Rowland could be accused of failing to report the bribes or gratuities on his taxes.

"You understand, Mr. Donohue, as you sit here today, that you are a target of the investigation of the United States attorney's office into federal bribery - you understand that, right?"

On January 17, 1979, Scotto was indicted on 33 federal bribery and racketeering charges.

In 2009, he pleaded guilty to federal bribery and conspiracy charges in exchange for testimony against former Birmingham, Alabama, mayor Larry Langford.

This week, as Ben F. Andrews, a civil rights leader and unsuccessful candidate for secretary of the state, was convicted on federal bribery and money laundering charges, one chapter in the corruption scandals seemed to close.

Two of his Secretaries of War and Navy, his personal secretary, and high officials he named to the Treasury department joined federal bribery or tax-evasion syndicates.