WASHINGTON -- Former Ohio Rep. Bob Ney has been released from a federal halfway house in Cincinnati. A manager for the facility confirmed Ney was released Friday, having completed a 17-month sentence.

VIDEO: Scott MacFarlane Reports - Bob Ney Released from Custody

Ney resigned his office and pleaded guilty to a felony bribery charge in 2006, in connection with the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal in Washington. A federal judge sentenced the longtime Republican leader to 30 months in prison. Having reportedly completed a substance abuse, Ney was able to secure an early release.

A leading ethics group in Washington said it's satisfied with Ney's punishment, despite the reduction.

Melanie Sloan, of Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility in Washington said, "I think Mr. Ney's situation serves as a cautionary tale for other members of Congress who are thinking of engaging in corrupt activities. They too can see that they can find themselves in jail without any real career prospects."

Democratic Rep. Zack Space, who holds Ney's former Congressional seat, said, "Bob Ney was well loved and well liked by a lot of people in his district. He misled them and engaged in criminal conduct and lied about it a long time. There's a loss of trust in, not just Bob Ney, but in the system itself and how it works."

Multiple emails to Bob Ney have not been returned.