The former chief of staff to ex-Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio) will walk away without prison time for his role in helping disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff bribe Ney.

U.S. District Court Judge Ellen Huvelle sentenced Neil Volz on Wednesday to two years probation and a $2,000 fine, based on his extensive cooperation in the government’s investigation into Ney and other Abramoff conspirators.

Volz pleaded guilty in 2006 to helping Ney solicit gifts from Abramoff, and of providing things of value to Ney after he became a lobbyist on Abramoff’s team.

In August, Will Heaton, Volz’s successor as Ney’s chief of staff, also received probation and a $5,000 fine.

Ney is serving a 30-month prison term on corruption charges.

— Paul Singer