Abramoff talking -- could be sweet

Lobbyist, Prosecutors Said Close to Deal
Dec 30, 8:59 PM (ET)

By TONI LOCY

WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal prosecutors and lawyers for Republican lobbyist
Jack Abramoff are putting the finishing touches on a plea deal that could be
announced as early as Tuesday, according to people familiar with the
negotiations.

The plea agreement would secure the lobbyist's testimony against several
members of Congress who received favors from him or his clients.

Abramoff and a former partner were indicted in Miami in August on charges of
conspiracy and fraud for allegedly lying about their assets to help secure
financing to purchase a fleet of gambling boats.

For the past two weeks, pressure has been intensifying on Abramoff to strike
a deal with prosecutors since his former business partner, Adam Kidan,
pleaded guilty to fraud and conspiracy in connection with the 2000 SunCruz
deal.

Abramoff's cooperation would be a boon to an ongoing Justice Department
investigation of congressional corruption, possibly helping prosecutors
build criminal cases against up to 20 lawmakers and their staff members.

Requesting anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the talks, people
said the lawyers spoke by phone with U.S. District Judge Paul C. Huck,
giving him an update on the plea negotiations. Huck scheduled another status
conference for 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The deal could be completed before then, the people said. Abramoff could
sign the plea agreement and exchange it with prosecutors via fax over the
weekend, they said.

Details of where Abramoff will enter his plea are still being worked out.
Abramoff's lawyers have indicated that they want the plea to be made in U.S.
District Court in Washington, one of the people said.

If that happens, Abramoff would plead guilty to charges contained in what is
known as a criminal information - a filing made by a federal prosecutor with
a defendant's permission that bypasses action by a grand jury.

The lawyers could then apprise Huck about the plea and its effect on the
case in Miami.

Abramoff and Kidan were indicted for allegedly concocting a fake $23 million
wire transfer to make it appear they were putting their own money into the
SunCruz deal. Two lenders agreed to provide $60 million in financing for the
SunCruz purchase based on that false wire transfer, according to
prosecutors.

For months, prosecutors in Washington have focused on whether Abramoff
defrauded his Indian tribe clients of millions of dollars and used improper
influence on members of Congress.

In a five-year span ending in early 2004, Indian tribes represented by the
lobbyist contributed millions of dollars in casino income to congressional
campaigns, often routing the money through political action committees for
conservative members of Congress who opposed gambling.

Abramoff also provided trips, skybox fundraisers, golf fees, frequent meals,
entertainment and jobs for lawmakers' relatives and aides.

Kidan and Abramoff bought SunCruz from Konstantinos "Gus" Boulis, who was
slain in 2001 in a gangland-style hit in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Investigators
say Boulis and Kidan were fighting for control of SunCruz; Kidan has denied
any involvement in Boulis' death.

Three men were arrested in September on murder charges in Boulis' killing
and are awaiting trial.

Michael Scanlon, another former Abramoff associate, pleaded guilty in
November in a separate case in Washington.

Scanlon said he helped Abramoff and Kidan buy SunCruz by persuading Rep. Bob
Ney, R-Ohio, to insert comments into the Congressional Record that were
"calculated to pressure the then-owner to sell on terms favorable" to
Abramoff and Kidan.

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20051231/D8EQUC384.html



More unraveling at the GOP center.



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