It's not just Toronto: Tea Party congressman busted for cocaine

MIAMI -- U.S. Rep. Trey Radel was sentenced to a year of probation after pleading guilty Wednesday to misdemeanor cocaine possession -- a charge that authorities say came after he bought a small amount of cocaine in a sting in the nation's capital last month.

Radel, a 37-year-old first-term Republican from Florida, said at his sentencing in D.C. Superior Court that he plans to enter an inpatient drug treatment program in Naples, Florida. It wasn't immediately clear how long he would be in treatment.

The plea and sentence were part of a deal that Radel's attorney struck with federal prosecutors. He could have received a maximum sentence of 180 days imprisonment or a $1,000 fine, or both.

"Your honor, I apologize for what I've done," Radel told Judge Robert Tignor in court Wednesday. "I think in life I've hit a bottom where I realize I need help."

Radel said he was aggressively pursuing that help, with the support of friends and loved ones.

"I'm so sorry to be here," he continued, saying that he knew he'd let his constituents, his country and his family down and that he would work to recover and to be a better man. "I want to come out of this stronger," he said.

In a statement released earlier this week, Radel said he struggled with alcoholism, which led "to an extremely irresponsible choice."

He was charged after he bought 3.5 grams of cocaine from an undercover police officer in Washington's Dupont Circle area on October 29, court documents say.