Another Abramoff partner pleads guilty to conspiracy. Will testify

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsarticle.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyid=2005-12-15T233216Z_01_DIT584713_RTRUKOC_0_US-CRIME-ABRAMOFF.xml

IAMI (Reuters) - A New York businessman charged with fraud alongside prominent Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff in the purchase of a Florida casino cruise line pleaded guilty on Thursday to fraud and conspiracy charges.

The case against Abramoff and former business partner Adam Kidan has gained wide attention in Washington because Abramoff, a Republican fund-raiser, has close ties to former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Texas and is a central figure in influence-buying investigations.

Kidan, 41, entered the guilty plea in a Miami federal court to one count of conspiracy and one of wire fraud, each of which carries a possible sentence of five years in prison. U.S. District Judge Paul Huck accepted the plea and set sentencing for March 1.

Outside the courthouse after the hearing, Kidan's lawyer, Joseph Conway, said his client conspired with Abramoff in the fraud and was willing to testify in Abramoff's trial next month.

"If the government is prepared to call him as a witness, he is prepared to testify," Conway said. He did not allow Kidan to talk to reporters.

Abramoff spokesman Andrew Blum declined comment.

Kidan and Abramoff were indicted in August on allegations they duped specialty lenders Foothill Capital and Citadel Equity Fund Ltd. by pledging to invest $23 million in the $147.5 million purchase of SunCruz Casino five years ago in return for a $60 million loan.

The indictment said the two offered a counterfeit wire transfer document as proof they had invested the money.

Asked by Huck in court if he had done what the government alleged, Kidan said, "Yes, your honor."

Abramoff and Kidan bought the casino cruise empire from Konstantinos "Gus" Boulis, a Greek immigrant entrepreneur who built the cruise line and the Miami Subs restaurant chain. He was shot to death in his car on a Fort Lauderdale street in 2001.

Conway said his client had no knowledge of Boulis' murder. Three men were arrested in September in connection with the gangland-style killing.

Michael Scanlon, once a partner of Abramoff and a former top aide of DeLay, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy in defrauding Indian tribes of millions of dollars and lavishing gifts on a member of Congress.

Scanlon's plea agreement was seen as a major lift to prosecutors' efforts to investigate suspected influence-buying involving Abramoff, members of Congress and government agencies.

...the ugly, festering boil that is the Republican Party. This country will not heal, until their filth is drained from the body.

For every Abramoff that gets caught, there's probably several more Abramoffs who are still wreaking havoc on our Republic.

be very exciting. I want a front row seat! :popcorn: I'm glad he's going to spill the beans. We need to get rid of criminals no matter who they are. Our government needs to be returned to of the people, by the people and for the people. No more of this "I'm going to do what I damn well please" nonsense!

I'm sure it dropped the bottom out of a lot of bravado in this gang.

Wilkes is the defense contractor with the small, nearly dummy companies that collected fat (but not too fat) contracts from the DOD and then flipped the money into campaign contributions for the GOP.

All these scandals are connected to each other, and the unraveling when enough of these threads get pulled out should be spectacular.

I just hope somebody is smart enough to apply the RICO statutes to these guys.

because the AUSA was going to slam him with additional charges if he didn't call it quits now. I wonder if he had to agree to testify....

He didn't want to get in more trouble. Squirm like they always do under pressure.

average chimp, and would not let that kind of thing go down.

I love the avatar from MadTV I am :rofl: all of the time when you post.



Give Mommy a Kiss....."

or "I don't like your avatar". Can you imagine saying that to someone? It's only an avatar for christs sake. I love Stuart, i think he and his mom are hilarious.

infact I am grinning ear to ear just think about it.

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TIA,

unhappycamper
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