HARRISBURG -- Prosecutors yesterday secured their first seven guilty pleas in a three-year government corruption investigation that has become known as Bonusgate.

Seven former House Democratic staffers pleaded guilty -- some tearfully -- to diverting at least a million dollars in public funds to pay legislative staffers for campaign work.

The defendants conspired "to pay bonuses of legislative funds -- taxpayer money -- to legislative employees for political campaign work," prosecutor James Reeder told Dauphin County Common Pleas Judge Richard Lewis yesterday.

Each was initially charged with multiple counts of theft, conflict of interest and conspiracy but pleaded guilty to lesser charges in exchange for their testimony against four co-defendants headed to trial Jan. 19.

Most defendants were stoic throughout yesterday's proceedings, but two -- Jennifer Brubaker and Earl Mosley -- had tears streaming down their faces and tissues in their hands as Judge Lewis asked each if they understood the charges against them.

Mrs. Brubaker, 37, is the former director of the Democratic Office of Research, which prosecutors say served as a de facto campaign office in the Capitol basement.

Mr. Mosley, 54, is a former personnel director.

Even as Mr. Mosley pleaded guilty to three counts, attorney Matthew Gover attempted to justify his client's crimes.

"He was directed to issue those checks. He didn't do it of his own volition," Mr. Gover told Judge Lewis.

Mr. Reeder responded, "Mr. Mosley knew what he was doing, he knew that it was wrong and he knew this was part of a big scheme. ... Defense counsel may argue he was only a cog in this big wheel of this big scheme, but he was a felony cog."

He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment plus a fine. Attorneys yesterday could not agree whether the maximum fine would be $20,000 or $35,000. Mr. Mosley initially was charged with 16 counts and could have faced a maximum sentence of 106 years imprisonment and $225,000 in fines.

Mr. Reeder would not speculate on whether Mr. Mosley or any of the other defendants would serve any jail time. That's up to Judge Lewis, he said.

Sentencing will occur after the Jan. 19 trial of four other Bonusgate defendants. All seven who pleaded guilty yesterday are on the prosecution's list of potential witnesses in that case.

Defendant Michael Manzo's testimony is thought to be particularly important to the case against former Democratic Whip Michael Veon.

Mr. Manzo, former chief of staff to state Rep. Bill DeWeese, faces the stiffest possible punishment. He pleaded guilty to 10 counts, which together carry a maximum sentence of 26 years imprisonment and $55,000 in fines.

Mr. Reeder said Mr. Manzo used state employees, money, telephones, copy machines and "everything you could think of" to run the political campaigns of Mr. Veon and other Democratic candidates. He also helped coordinate the bonus scheme and, additionally, had his then-girlfriend put on the state payroll in a Pittsburgh office "so he could not have to spend his own resources to keep her available to him when he traveled to that part of the state," Mr. Reeder said.

Mr. Manzo, 40, initially was charged with 47 counts carrying a maximum sentence of 311 years and $660,000 in fines.

Meanwhile, his wife, Rachel, a former aide to the House Tourism Committee, pleaded guilty to a single misdemeanor that carries a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment and a $10,000 fine.

Mrs. Manzo, 29, initially was charged with 12 counts, including several felonies, that carry a maximum sentence of 80 years imprisonment and $170,000 in fines.

Scott Brubaker, Jennifer's husband and the former director of staffing and administration for the House Democratic caucus, pleaded guilty to four counts, including theft, conflict of interest and criminal conspiracy. He faces a maximum sentence of 19 years imprisonment and $40,000 in fines.

Mr. Brubaker, 44, initially was charged 22 criminal counts carrying a maximum sentence of 144 years and $310,000 in fines.

Mrs. Brubaker, meanwhile, also pleaded guilty to four counts, including conflict of interest and conspiracy. The counts carry a maximum sentence of 13 years imprisonment and $15,000 in fines.

If she had gone to trial, she could have had to answer to 17 charges with a maximum sentence of 113 years and $240,000.

Co-defendant Patrick "P.J." Lavelle, meanwhile, pleaded guilty to conflict of interest and conspiracy. The charges carry a maximum sentence of five years and $10,000 in fines.

Mr. Lavelle, 31, was hired ostensibly as a research analyst, but prosecutors say he spent virtually all his time raising money for political campaigns.

He initially was charged with six counts carrying a maximum sentence of 40 years and $85,000 in fines.

Former caucus attorney Jeff Foreman, meanwhile, pleaded guilty to four criminal counts carrying a maximum sentence of 19 years and $40,000 in fines. He initially was charged with 24 counts carrying a maximum sentence of 160 years and $240,000 in fines.

In addition to possible jail sentences and fines, Mr. Manzo and Mr. Foreman agreed to give up their state pensions. Pensions of other defendants also may be in jeopardy under rules requiring forfeiture after conviction of specified crimes.

All defendants must make restitution to the state. Amounts have not been determined. The restitution would include money for the defendants' own salaries and bonuses, as well as compensation given to other employees who the defendants directed to do political work, Mr. Reeder said.

Attorney General Tom Corbett is continuing his Bonusgate investigation, which so far has resulted in 25 arrests and one acquittal.

Observers in the courtroom included Carl Romanelli, who ran in 2006 as a Green Party candidate for U.S. Senate. Some of the charges in the Bonusgate case revolve around allegations that Democratic staffers worked on state time to challenge signatures on his election petitions in an attempt to knock him off the ballot and secure more votes for Democrat Bob Casey.

Yesterday's guilty pleas were good news for third-party candidates who have a hard enough time running against majority parties when everyone plays by the rules, Mr. Romanelli said.

Looking for more from the Post-Gazette? Join PG+, our members-only web site. You'll get exclusive sports content, opinion, financial information, discounts from retailers and restaurants, and more. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.