Motive behind SunCruz affair: good old greed (Abramoff Scandal)

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/13477233.htm

In pulp fiction, only a femme fatale could lure such a motley bunch into something as sordid as the SunCruz affair.

Only some mysterious woman could entice lobbyists, congressmen, con-men and mobsters into a bogus deal, political scandal and criminal conspiracy, which, like all noir novels, came with the taint of murder.

Real life proved less romantic. SunCruz's mystique was mere money. Great gobs of money derived from an unregulated gambling operation. Without much outside scrutiny, millions could be diverted from casino boats to entertain politicians or to be looted by its owners.

<snip>

Abramoff and Kidan put together a sham financial package to buy the 11-boat SunCruz armada from Gus Boulis in 2000. They were $20 million light. Gus was not pleased. He raised a ruckus. So Abramoff, king of the lobbyists, prevailed on a U.S. Rep. Bob Ney, to insert a statement in the Congressional Record attacking Boulis. Why would a Republican congressman from Ohio take an interest in Florida casino boat fleet? It's all about that SunCruz mystique, of course.

Despite being pummeled by Abramoff's congressional supplicant, Boulis wouldn't shut up. Not until Feb. 6, 2001, when he was gunned down in Fort Lauderdale.

...more...

That has a ring to it, doesn't it?

:evilgrin:

"Washington's powermongers are beside themselves, wondering who Abramoff can implicate, how many congressmen he tainted with all that SunCruz mystique.

They worry that South Florida's casino scandal will devour Washington."

Stay tuned......

society' and when guys like Cliff Baxter or a David Kelly get in the way, they are taken out much like Boulis. junior + DeLay = Abramoff & organized crime.