Nichols hatched the scheme before September 2013, when she left to work at another firm, Goldsmith said. After she left, she continued to meet with Umarov, and promised him on Nov. 9 that Quarenghi was going to give him a deal, “something like probation,” according to her plea.

Umarov, who was by that time working with the FBI, finally agreed to pay $5,000 up front and $5,000 after his case received “favorable” treatment.

Umarov and Nichols met at a Clayton restaurant on Dec. 10, and he handed her $5,000 cash.

FBI agents were waiting. Nichols told them that she didn’t know Umarov was bringing money, that they’d never discussed amounts and that she didn’t know that there was money in the envelope, her plea says.

On Tuesday, Nichols pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court here to one count of wire fraud and one count of lying to the FBI. She faces probation or up to 18 months in prison at her Sept. 19 sentencing hearing. Prosecutors say she should be punished more harshly because she abused a position of trust, obstructed justice during the investigation and took advantage of a vulnerable victim.