W. Carlton Weddington resigned his Ohio House seat and surrendered to authorities in March.

Authorities say the Columbus Democrat accepted all-expenses-paid trips to South Beach, Miami, and California’s Napa Valley from a fake business entity set up by the FBI.

The entity sought to exchange trips, cash and campaign contributions for legislation that Weddington would introduce.

Weddington pleaded guilty in June to charges of bribery, election falsification and filing a false financial disclosure statement. He’d been out on bond.

A judge has indicated he’d be inclined to grant Weddington judicial release after two years, assuming he had a good prison record.

The Franklin County prosecutor’s office is confirming that an investigation is underway with Rep. Clayton Luckie as the target. Ron O’Brien’s office won’t say what charges the Democrat from Dayton could face, but it’s expected to be ethics related. For now, Luckie isn’t talking about it, saying that he still plans to run for re-election in his district, which is heavily Democratic. But if he’s convicted or agrees to a plea deal, he can’t hold elected office in Ohio. O’Brien has said he expects to have charges filed against another lawmaker or lobbyist by Labor Day.

But is it unknown if the Luckie probe is related to an FBI sting that ended with the conviction and resignation of Democratic former Rep. Carlton Weddington of Columbus. He pleaded guilty to bribery for accepting cash and paid trips in exchange for promising to introduce legislation for a fake business entity set up by the FBI.

Weddington begins serving his prison sentence next Friday – he could be released in two years if he cooperates with investigators.

Weddington is scheduled to report to prison in August.

Weddington’s attorney, Karl Schneider said, Weddington is disheartened.

“But he recognized he made some errors in judgment and he’s extremely remorseful about that and wanted to move on.”

Weddington accepted $5,000 in cash and trips to Napa Valley, California and South Beach, Florida.

Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien said undercover FBI agents investigating Weddington posed as wine merchants looking for favorable treatment on imports into Ohio.

“Mr. Weddington actually went so far as to refer some legislation and put in legislative form a bill to accomplish that and send it to the legislative service commission,” O’Briend said.

Weddington can apply for early release in two years following the mandatory bribery sentence. The judge stipulated Weddington would have to agree to community service and speak to organizations regarding his violation of public trust.

Schneider expects Weddington likely will be amenable to those conditions.

“I’m certain Carlton would view that as something that he would do and he would willingly do. And for that matter might even relish doing that.”

Weddington was the first Ohio lawmaker in 100 years to be charged with bribery.

O’Brien said Weddington has been cooperative during the investigation. And O’Brien expects to file additional charges against others stemming from the investigation.