Posted on 08/11/2005 10:33:30 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
MIAMI - Federal prosecutors are seeking bank fraud charges against lobbyist Jack Abramoff, a key figure in investigations involving House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, The Associated Press learned Thursday.
The charges stem from the 2000 purchase by Abramoff and his partners of SunCruz Casinos and the alleged use of a fake wire transfer of $23 million aimed at influencing lenders to provide millions of dollars for the deal. Exact details of the charges were not immediately available.
A grand jury, meeting in Miami, could hand up indictments against Abramoff as early as Thursday, federal law enforcement sources said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the grand jury indictment had not been finalized.
Abramoff's Miami attorney, Neal Sonnett, said he had not been informed of any charges but said that Abramoff was not involved in any fraud. Abramoff had previously been notified that he was a target of the investigation.
The partners bought SunCruz, which runs a fleet of gambling boats, from entrepreneur Konstantinos "Gus" Boulis for $147 million in September 2000, but the deal soon fell apart. Amid bitter legal fighting over the sale, Boulis was shot to death in February 2001 what police called a hit. The Fort Lauderdale killing has never been solved.
Abramoff is also under federal investigation in Washington by a grand jury investigating whether he and a lobbying partner overcharged Indian tribes by millions of dollars for their work.
DeLay, R-Texas, was not mentioned in any lawsuits involved in the SunCruz deal.
DeLay has asked the House Ethics Committee to review allegations that Abramoff or his clients paid some of DeLay's overseas travel expenses. DeLay has denied knowing that the expenses were paid by Abramoff, whom he once described as "one of my closest and dearest friends."
The SunCruz fleet of 11 ships had 2,300 slot machines and 175 gaming tables and sailed from nine Florida ports and Myrtle Beach, S.C., to international waters. The company continues to operate gambling cruises under new ownership after emerging from bankruptcy.
Boulis also founded the Miami Subs restaurant chain.
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Associated Press writer Mark Sherman in Washington contributed to this story.
WHAT investigations?......
LOLOL.. potential future "investigations" , silly. :)
Which makes me wonder why his name is mentioned here. But then we know don't we? Too bad they didn't have enough room to name all of the Democrats who had travel expenses paid for by Mr. Abramoff. Maybe they'll print them in another article.
Well, well, well.
Commercials are popping up quite regularly, paid for by the DNC of montana.
Damn, that Rove thing just didn't pan out. Oh well, back to DeLay then.
I have a feeeling Amelia Earhart may be found, and soon, at this rate. lolol
As I said on another thread...I question the timing.
I was waiting for the MSM to bring something up to try and get this Gorelick scandal off of the radar......
The enemy within knows no boundaries
I love how they never mentioned that several dems were also associated with Abramoff - and received donations from him .. but the AP can only find one name to mention - Tom DeLay.
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