Prometheus 6

Quote of note:

It's the first criminal charges against Abramoff, who is also under investigation for his lobbying activities on behalf of Indian tribes and for his role in paying for overseas trips for DeLay, the second-ranking Republican in the U.S. House.

DeLay, R-Texas, was not mentioned in any lawsuits involved in the SunCruz deal.

Key Figure in DeLay Investigation Indicted
Washington Lobbyist Jack Abramoff, Key Figure in DeLay Probe, Charged in Federal Fraud Indictment
By CURT ANDERSON
The Associated Press

Aug. 12, 2005 - Lobbyist Jack Abramoff, a key figure in investigations involving House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, was indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury on fraud charges arising from a deal to buy casino boats.

Abramoff and a partner in the $147 million purchase of SunCruz Casinos were named in a six-count grand jury indictment unsealed Thursday in Fort Lauderdale. Prosecutors say they concocted a fake $23 million wire transfer to defraud two lenders out of about $60 million to finance the deal.

Abramoff and New York businessman Adam Kidan bought SunCruz from Greek-born entrepreneur Konstantinos "Gus" Boulis for $147 million in September 2000, but the deal soon fell apart. Amid bitter legal fighting over the sale, the 51-year-old Boulis was shot to death five months later in what police called a hit that remains unsolved.

The indictment against Abramoff charges that he used income from SunCruz to finance political fund-raising activities, including events at private boxes at Washington-area sports venues such as the MCI Center and Oriole Park at Camden Yards.