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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Republican activist pleaded guilty on Friday to obstructing Congress and evading taxes in a deal with prosecutors probing the influence-peddling scandal involving former lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Italia Federici faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, but she will likely serve far less. Sentencing was set for November 16 and prosecutors will weigh the value of her cooperation in the ongoing investigation.

She also faces between $6,000 and $60,000 in fines and must pay taxes owed plus interest.

Abramoff, currently serving a six-year prison sentence, is at the center of a lobbying scandal that has resulted in prison time for several Bush administration officials and one congressman.

As head of the Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy, Federici, 37, had close ties to senior Interior Department officials, including former Interior Secretary Gale Norton. Founded by Federici and Norton in 1997, CREA is a nonprofit group that touts Republicans’ environmental accomplishments and criticizes established environmental groups like the Sierra Club.

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