A KICKBACK SCANDAL THAT REACHED UP TO ONE OF NEW MEXICO’S MOST POWERFUL POLITICIANS IS NEARING ITS FINAL CHAPTER. FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS NAMED A LARGE GROUP OF DEFENDANTS IN THE METRO COURTHOUSE CONSTRUCTION SCANDAL ...AND HAVE NOW COLLECTED GUILTY PLEAS FROM ALL OF THEM. TODAY — THE FINAL DEFENDANT -- CONSTRUCTION MANAGER MICHAEL MURPHY PLEADED GUILTY TO HIS ROLE IN THE SCANDAL. JEREMY JOJOLA IS LIVE WHERE IT ALL BEGAN -- OUTSIDE THE METRO COURTHOUSE AS THE MAJOR CASE COMES TO A CLOSE.// THIS IS CONVICTION NUMBER EIGHT... THE LAST DOMINO OF DEFENDANTS FALLING TODAY... CONTRACTOR MICHAEL MURPHY ADMITTING HE PCOKETED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS DURING THE COURTHOUSE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT. THE PARADE OF PEOPLE WALKING OUT OF FEDERAL COURT AS CONVICTED FELONS ENDED TODAY. FROM A BIG TIME POLITICIAN, TO A METRO COURT BOSS, AND NOW, TO A CONTRACTOR. THIS TIME---CONSTRUCTIO N COMPANY OWNER MICHAEL MURPHY. MURPHY PLEADED GUILTY -- TELLING A JUDGE HE ACCEPTED 20-THOUSAND DOLLARS ILLEGALLY MADE DURING THE SCANDAL. TODAY HE DIDN'T SAY MUCH ABOUT HIS PLEA DEAL. 'you think it was worth it Mr. Murphy.''that's what I said.' MURPHY TOLD THE JUDGE HE ACCEPTED THE CHECK FROM FORMER METRO COURT BOSS TOBY MARTINEZ. MARTINEZ HAS ALREADY PLEADED GUILTY TO TAKING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN KICK-BACKS BY SIGNING OFF ON INFLATED INVOICES. 'you might want to see Mr. Bowles if you care to get any questions answered...watch your step there.' MURPHY'S ATTRONEY SAYING HIS CLIENT TOOK THE MONEY, KNOWING IT WAS ILLEGAL, BUT DIDN'T KNOW HOW IT WAS MADE. 'sometimes we all find ourselves in situations where other people around us can be doing wrong, wrong doing...and we don't know about it. And it happens to all of us.' THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SAYING THIS EIGHTH, FINAL CONVICTION PROVES THEIR CASE. 'it's the right thing to have happened in this case. Each of them have come in and have admitted what they've done....''I think its sending some strong signals to...