Lobbyist Abramoff gets nearly six years for fraud

JACK ABRAMOFF, the disgraced lobbyist at the heart of a Washington influence-peddling scandal that has rattled top Republicans, was sentenced to nearly six years in prison yesterday for fraud in the purchase of a Florida casino cruise line.

Abramoff, who is co-operating in a probe into whether Washington politicians gave his clients favourable treatment in exchange for campaign contributions and other illegal gifts, received five years and 10 months in prison.

Abramoff, along with co-defendant Adam Kidan, was ordered to pay $21.7 million (€18m) in restitution. Kidan was also sentenced to five years and 10 months in prison.

Abramoff pleaded guilty in Miami in January to conspiracy and wire fraud charges, acknowledging he faked documents to get a $60m (€49.9m) loan to buy the SunCruz fleet of gambling ships in 2000. The documents falsely claimed Abramoff and Kidan had put $23m (€19m) of their own money into the deal.

Abramoff also pleaded guilty in January to conspiracy and fraud charges in Washington, admitting he showered golf trips, meals, sports tickets and other gifts on lawmakers in return for actions that would help his clients.

Federal investigators were examining his links to several Washington politicians, including former House Majority leader Tom DeLay of Texas and Republican Bob Ney of Ohio. They have denied wrongdoing.

In a recent interview, Abramoff said he worked closely with many top Republicans and said if they denied it, they were lying.

Abramoff and Kidan bought SunCruz from Konstantinos "Gus" Boulis, who was shot dead on a street in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in February 2001.

Abramoff and Kidan have both said they know nothing about Boulis's death.

Before the hearing, more than 260 people - including rabbis, military officers and even a professional hockey referee - wrote letters on the men's behalf asking the federal judge for leniency.

The letters put a new spin on the foibles and crimes of a man who became the face of Washington's latest corruption scandal.

"Jack is a good person, who in his quest to be successful, lost sight of the rules," National Hockey League referee Dave Jackson wrote, describing the time Abramoff brought 14 youngsters to his dressing room before a game.

Kidan, in a letter to the judge, said he knew the SunCruz deal was wrong but said he "was very caught up in the fast paced world of my partner and the high profile that came along with it". He added: "I am not the horrible person that the media has written about."

Abramoff, 47, and Kidan, 41, are also expected to give statements in the investigation into the slaying of Mr Boulis, who was gunned down at the wheel of his car amid a power struggle over 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.

Both Abramoff and Kidan have repeatedly denied any role in or knowledge of the murder. But prosecutors say Kidan has not been ruled out as a suspect and defence attorneys say Abramoff could provide critical inside information about the dispute with Mr Boulis, who also founded the Miami Subs restaurant chain.