Abramoff Gets Nearly 6 Years in Prison

By CURT ANDERSON Associated Press Writer
© 2006 The Associated Press

MIAMI — Lobbyist Jack Abramoff and a former partner were sentenced to nearly six years in prison on fraud charges but were allowed to remain free while they help a corruption investigation that has embroiled Congress.

U.S. District Judge Paul C. Huck sentenced Abramoff and Adam Kidan to five years and 10 months behind bars on Wednesday for concocting a fake $23 million wire transfer during the 2000 purchase of SunCruz Casinos.

The judge agreed to postpone the prison reporting dates for the men to allow them to continue cooperating in both the Washington bribery investigation and the 2001 killing of former SunCruz owner Konstantinos "Gus" Boulis. Both deny having any role in the death.

Ultimately, if prosecutors are satisfied with Abramoff's and Kidan's cooperation in the other investigations, the sentences _ the minimum recommended under federal guidelines _ could be reduced.

"They are both trying to atone for their conduct by cooperating with the government," said Lawrence LaVecchio, an assistant U.S. attorney. "I have every reason to believe they will continue to cooperate."

Hours after the sentencing, the Senate voted 90-8 to bar its members from accepting gifts or meals from lobbyists, and to require lobbyists to reveal more information about their contacts with lawmakers. Critics are seeking deeper changes, including a ban on privately funded travel and the creation of an independent office to investigate possible ethics violations by senators.

The House has yet to take up similar legislation, but House and Senate leaders have made lobbying and ethics reform a priority in light of the Abramoff scandal and the recent bribery conviction of former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Calif.

In addition to the prison sentence, Huck ordered Abramoff, 47, and Kidan, 41, to pay $21.7 million in restitution to lenders victimized by their fraud scheme. Both must serve three years' probation after they get out of prison.

Abramoff, dressed in a dark business suit, said in brief remarks prior to sentencing that the day was "incredibly painful" for himself, his friends and family but that he intended to make amends.

"I am much chastened and profoundly remorseful over the reckless and hurtful things I have done in my life, especially those which have brought me before you today. I can only hope that the Almighty and those whom I have wronged will forgive me my trespasses," Abramoff said.

Kidan also expressed remorse, saying his goal in life now is to become a better role model for his 2-year-old daughter. "There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about it and wish it would have turned out differently," Kidan told the judge.

Both men pleaded guilty to conspiracy and wire fraud for concocting the wire transfer to make it appear they were contributing a sizable stake of their own money to the $147.5 million SunCruz purchase. Based on the transfer, lenders gave the pair $60 million in financing.

The same week in January that Abramoff pleaded guilty to the SunCruz fraud, he entered guilty pleas to three federal charges as part of a wide-ranging corruption probe that could involve up to 20 members of Congress and aides, including former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas. No date has been set for his sentencing in that case.

That investigation arose from Abramoff's representation of six Indian tribes, which he and a partner billed for $80 million between 2001 and 2004. They directed the tribes to give thousands of dollars in political campaign contributions. Tribal leaders have said in many cases they were unaware of what was happening to their money.

In addition, Abramoff and Kidan are expected to give statements in the investigation into the Feb. 6, 2001, slaying of Boulis. He was gunned down at the wheel of his car on a Fort Lauderdale street amid a power struggle over control of the gambling fleet.

Three men face murder charges, including one who worked for Kidan as a consultant at SunCruz and who allegedly has ties to New York's Gambino crime family. They could get the death penalty if convicted.

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It's feels so good to see these crooked fucks finally getting some justice, too bad we can't hang all of them.

I bet the politicians love this. It appears to the people that something has been done, along with the weak lobbying bill they passed in the Senate. Nothing will change.

I bet if we cut his hands off and set him on fire something would change.

Personally, I think scalping him would be a more fitting punishment.

Ha!!

Can we eat his heart?

Bingo.

Although I consider myself a pseudo Libertarian, the one thing I would like the government to spend money on is publicly funded elections. I really think people should take this up at the state and local level so that it will eventually go national. I believe that some countries already practice this. Scrap the special organizations which exist only to be used as loopholes by the parties, and severly restsrict the type of private funding available. Require candidates to gather X number of signatures for each type of office in order to be elected in order to receive public funding, and have fairly strict guidlines as to how much of the money can be spent for what. I don't see any other way to force politicians to be more accountable to the people than to the special interests that got them elected. In addition, I don't think more than a handful of current office holders deserve to be re-elected, seeing how almost everyone in Washington takes part in this disgusting graft. Being party to the current under the table dealings is of itself good enough reason to be booted out of office in my book. They should be spending more energy on trying to solve national issues than filling their re-election coffers.

I can't wait until this Abramoff thing starts taking down some top-level republican congressmen too. And if it happens before the elections this year? Icing on the cake.

Hope you keep your asshole clean in prison, scumbag

Yeah I agree. I'm actually a little surprised that names haven't popped-up yet. Maybe I've not read enough.

I doubt he's going to that type of prison, friend. If he did I don't think he'd survive his sentence.