Michael Grimm, a Republican who has represented New Yorkers in Congress since 2011, entered a guilty plea on Tuesday in federal court, admitting that he helped prepare a fraudulent tax return for a restaurant he partially owned. Prosecutors have suggested he spend 24 to 30 months in prison and Grimm's lawyer suggested 12 to 18 to a judge today, but a person who is familiar with the congressman's negotiations told DailyMail.com on Monday that the Republican lawmaker doesn't expect to go to jail at all. Today Grimm told reporters chasing him down outside the court house that he doesn't plan to resign.
@highlight
Michael Grimm faced 20 federal criminal counts related to false tax returns filed by a restaurant in which he was a 45-percent owner
@highlight
The former FBI agent won re-election by 13 points last month despite the cloud of prison hanging over him; he is refusing to resign
@highlight
Loretta Lynch, the prosecutor chosen by President Obama to replace US Attorney General Eric Holder, filed the indictment in the spring
@highlight
House Speaker John Boehner is keeping mum on whether or not Grimm can keep his seat in Congress if he manages to avoid jail
@highlight
Grimm became famous worldwide in January for threatening to throw a reporter off a balcony in the US Capitol for asking him a tough question
Lynch later became President Barack Obama choice to succeed @placeholder as U.S. attorney general.