04.10.07
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Judge Agrees to Hear Sentence Reduction Motion for
Abramoff
A federal judge agreed Tuesday to hear a motion seeking a
reduction of the prison sentences for lobbyist Jack Abramoff
and his former business partner.
Federal prosecutors asked to reduce the nearly six-year sentences
of Abramoff and Adam Kidan because of their cooperation in
ongoing state and federal investigations.
No date was set for the hearing. U.S. District Judge Paul
Huck ordered it be held when the defendants' cooperation was
complete, or sooner if the government agrees.
Documents filed in federal court say Abramoff has provided
"substantial assistance" in a corruption scandal
investigation separate from the case for which he is serving
time. He continues to work with investigators from his prison
cell in Cumberland, Md.
"Mr. Abramoff has been cooperating since well before
his plea of guilty," said Abramoff attorney Neal Sonnett.
"It's always been understood that the government would
take that into consideration."
Joseph Conway, an attorney for Kidan, also noted his client's
cooperation.
"At this point the cooperation is going in the right
direction," Conway said.
Abramoff and Kidan are imprisoned over an ill-fated gambling
fleet purchase. The men pleaded guilty to concocting a fake
$20 million wire transfer for the 2000 purchase of SunCruz
Casinos.
The bogus transfer enabled the pair to get $60 million in
financing for the deal.
Abramoff also has pleaded guilty to three federal charges
arising from a Washington corruption probe. He has not yet
been sentenced in that case.
- The Associated Press
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