New Haven, Conn. ? Six months after being driven from office by scandal, former Gov. John G. Rowland pleaded guilty to a corruption charge Thursday, admitting he traded his office for more than $100,000 in flights to Las Vegas, Vermont vacations and repairs to his vacation cottage.

Rowland, 47, probably will get 15 to 21 months in federal prison, lawyers said.

The once popular three-term Republican had maintained for months that the businessmen and cronies who lavished gifts on him had received nothing in exchange. With a single word Thursday, he changed all that: “Guilty,” he told the court.

The plea ends a two-year federal investigation of the former politician, though he still could face state charges.

“Obviously, mistakes have been made throughout the last few years, and I accept responsibility for those,” he said after court.

Rowland had not been charged with a crime before Thursday.