The Globe reports that former Lowell City Manager Joe Tully pleaded guilty yesterday in US District Court to one count of wire fraud in a case that arose out of the closing-then-relocation of the Registry of Motor Vehicles office in the city. While the maximum possible sentence could be up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, prosecutors will only ask the judge to impose home confinement and not incarceration. The defense is expected to ask for straight probation. It’s not clear when sentencing will take place, nor is there any indication that this is the end of the matter or if there is more to come.