CLEVELAND - A federal judge sentenced a former administrative aide to convicted ex-Rep. James Traficant Jr. to six months home detention and fined him $20,000 Thursday for lying to a grand jury about kickbacks paid to the congressman.

        U.S. District Court Judge Lesley Brooks Wells also put Henry DiBlasio on probation for four years.

        Mr. DiBlasio, 72, a retired attorney now living in Florida, pleaded guilty June 25 to a single count of perjury for lying to a grand jury when he denied giving kickbacks to Mr. Traficant.

        Mr. DiBlasio worked for Mr. Traficant from 1985 to 1998 and was one of the highest paid members of Mr. Traficant's staff, but maintained a private law practice as well. Mr. Traficant was convicted of requiring Mr. DiBlasio and other staff members to kick back to him portions of their paychecks.

        Government attorneys didn't specify at the time of his guilty plea how much Mr. DiBlasio paid Mr. Traficant, but said he pushed envelopes full of cash under Mr. Traficant's private office door.

        Judge Wells said she imposed the maximum fine on Mr. DiBlasio for the perjury count because, “You know that's illegal conduct. It's very serious in terms of public confidence.”

        She said she allowed him to serve his sentence in home confinement because of Mr. DiBlasio's health problems.

        The maximum penalty was 16 months in prison.

        “I do accept responsibility,” Mr. DiBlasio told the judge. “I'm sorry. I've just never been in trouble in my life.”

        Mr. Traficant, who was expelled from the House by colleagues after his conviction on 10 counts including bribery and racketeering, was sentenced July 30 to eight years in prison. He has appealed his conviction.

        The Youngstown Democrat, who was sent to the minimum-security Allenwood federal prison in White Deer, Pa., is running for re-election as an independent.

        Mr. DiBlasio invoked his Fifth Amendment right not to testify at Mr. Traficant's trial.

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