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.