03.30.06 -
Top Lobbyist in Congress
Scandal Is Sentenced
Jack Abramoff, the former superlobbyist at the center of a major corruption
investigation in Washington involving members of Congress, was sentenced on
Wednesday to 5 years and 10 months in prison on related fraud changes in
Florida.
The judge agreed to the prison term, the minimum possible under sentencing
guidelines, after prosecutors praised Mr. Abramoff for his cooperation in the
Washington inquiry, which centers on accusations that he had tried to bribe
public officials, including Republican lawmakers.
In Florida, the case involved charges that Mr. Abramoff and a business partner
had defrauded lenders in a gambling cruise-ship line that they bought in 2000
for $147.5 million. Mr. Abramoff still faces sentencing in Washington, where he
pleaded guilty to fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy.
''In the past two years, I have started the process of becoming a new man,''
Mr. Abramoff said in a brief appearance before Judge Paul C. Huck of Federal
District Court here. ''As you can imagine, this day is incredibly painful for
my family, my friends and me.''
Wearing a gray double-breasted suit and speaking in a grave tone, Mr. Abramoff
said he was ''profoundly remorseful'' for his crimes.
For several minutes before the hearing, Mr. Abramoff, an Orthodox Jew whose
lawyers have suggested that he will seek confinement in a prison where he can
maintain a strict kosher diet and observe other religious requirements, closed
his eyes and appeared to pray, his upper body moving rhythmically back and
forth.
Adam Kidan, his former business partner, was sentenced at the hearing to the
same prison term as Mr. Abramoff. The two men have agreed to make a total of
$20.7 million in restitution as a result of the fraud here, which involved
faking documents to get a $60 million loan to buy the SunCruz fleet of gambling
ships.
A lingering mystery in the Florida case is why the former owner of SunCruz,
Konstantinos Boulis, also known as Gus, was gunned down in a gangland-style
ambush in February 2001 in the midst of an angry post-sale dispute with the
company's new buyers.
Three men were charged last year in the killing, including one linked to the
Gambino crime family. All three had financial links to Mr. Kidan. Both Mr.
Kidan and Mr. Abramoff have denied any involvement in Mr. Boulis's death.
Federal prosecutors offered no details about the cooperation they had received
from Mr. Abramoff since the plea agreement with the Justice Department was
announced in January. But their comments on Wednesday should deepen the concern
in Washington among lawmakers and others who are under scrutiny over their ties
to the lobbyist.
''I've spent a lot of time with both men,'' said Lawrence D. LaVecchio, an
assistant United States attorney in Miami in the case, referring to Mr.
Abramoff and Mr. Kidan. ''They are both trying to atone.''
Mr. LaVecchio said he was planning to ask Judge Huck to delay confinement of
Mr. Abramoff for at least six months, allowing prosecutors in Washington to
continue debriefing him outside of prison. The judge granted only 90 days'
delay but suggested that he was open to another postponement at the request of
the Justice Department.
Under federal sentencing guidelines, Mr. Abramoff could have received up to
seven years and three months in prison for his crimes here. He faces up to 11
years in prison as a result of his plea accord in the Washington case. Under
his agreement with the Justice Department, Mr. Abramoff will be allowed to
serve any prison terms concurrently. His overall prison time could be cut at
the request of prosecutors.
After the hearing Wednesday, Mr. Abramoff's lawyers, Neal R. Sonnett in Miami
and Abbe D. Lowell in Washington, said in a joint statement that ''today's
sentencing is another step in Mr. Abramoff's sincere commitment to accept
responsibility for his actions.''
''He will continue to work hard to fully cooperate with the Department of
Justice and law enforcement agencies and to make restitution to all victims,''
they said. ''This is the course he set out many months ago and the course he
intends to follow and complete no matter how long it takes.''
In the Washington case, Mr. Abramoff is accused with another former business
partner, Michael Scanlon, of conspiring to provide illegal gifts to members of
Congress in exchange for legislation and other actions.
There are clear links between the two investigations. In the Florida case, Mr.
Abramoff has acknowledged that he asked that Representative Bob Ney, an Ohio
Republican who recently stepped down as chairman of the House Administration
Committee, to enter statements in the Congressional Record praising Mr. Kidan
and condemning Mr. Boulis over the SunCruz sale. Mr. Ney, who went on a lavish
golfing holiday in Scotland that was arranged by Mr. Abramoff, has been
subpoenaed by the federal grand jury in Washington and has denied wrongdoing,
saying he was duped by Mr. Abramoff.
- Philip Shenon: New York Times Staff
Writer
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