Ex-procurement chief gets 18 months in prison (Abramoff dealings)

Ex-procurement chief gets 18 months in prison

By Jenny Mandel
jmandel@govexec.com

Former federal procurement chief David Safavian was sentenced on Friday to 18 months in prison for lying and obstructing investigations into his dealings with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Safavian was convicted in June on four of five charges of lying to General Services Administration and Senate officials about his interactions with Abramoff while serving as the chief of staff at GSA, and obstructing a GSA inspector general investigation.

The 18-month sentence fell halfway between the defense's recommendation that he serve between zero and 12 months, and a Justice Department recommendation for 30 to 37 months. D.C. District Judge Paul Friedman also declined to impose a fine along with prison time, based on a pre-sentencing report that found Safavian's finances ruined by legal fees.

"I think since Mr. Safavian is going to serve some time in prison, to impose a fine is punishing Mrs. Safavian and perhaps other relatives," Friedman said.

http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=35367&dcn=todaysnews