Navy commander from Illinois pleads guilty in far-reaching bribe case

CHICAGO (WLS) -- After pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery and bribery of a public official late Thursday in a newly-filed superseding indictment in San Diego, an attorney for Commander Michael Misiewicz said that he "has accepted personal responsibility. He has demonstrated remorse for the regrettable choices he made in 2011 and 2012."

Lawyer Mark Adams said that by pleading guilty, as the I-Team first reported he would on abc7chicago.com Wednesday night, "Misiewicz again takes responsibility for his actions in this public forum. He is extremely sorry for the harm he has caused to his family, the United States Navy and this great country."

The one-time Lanark, Illinois resident was among the last hold-outs in a case that has seen several high-level Navy officials pleading guilty. Misiewicz was accused of trading Navy information for personal favors from contractors; from Lady Gaga concert tickets to vacations for he and his family to prostitutes.

"The lawyers and the investigator working with Commander Misiewicz find him to be a respectful, conscientious and hard-working gentleman," Adams said in a statement to the I-Team following court Thursday in Southern California. "We look forward to our continued work with Commander Misiewicz as we prepare for a complex sentencing hearing where we will show that the decisions he made were an extreme departure from his otherwise distinguished and honorable 30 plus year career."