William Branigin just posted this story at WaPo —
Jack A. Abramoff, the once-powerful Republican lobbyist at the center of a major corruption scandal, was sentenced in Miami today to five years and 10 months in prison for his role in the fraudulent purchase of a fleet of casino cruise ships. An associate received the same sentence.
U.S. District Judge Paul C. Huck sentenced Abramoff, 47, and his former partner, Adam R. Kidan, 41, after considering their pleas for the shortest possible prison terms. Each laid most of the blame on the other for the scam, in which they faked a $23 million wire transfer to obtain financing for the 2000 purchase of SunCruz Casinos from an owner who was later shot to death in a gangland-style hit.
The maximum sentence was seven years six months. However, he’s yet to be sentenced on other charges, for fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy to bribe public officials. Abramoff pleaded guilty to those charges in January.
Is he actually going to have to serve time in prison? I’m picturing that asshat-in-a-fedora in the group shower with very large, tattooed Nazi skinheads.
Five years ‘n’ ten months of that? Hoo boy.
He did the crime but I don’t think he can do the time. I’m willing to bet he does a little better than half. He has more singing to do and he’ll do it once in prison. As far as sentencing for the other charges, I’ll take bets that the sentence(s) will be concurrent.
Let’s see… couldn’t pardon him before the mid-terms… that will lead to a Democratic House and impeachment.
Can’t pardon him before the ’08 election, or JEB won’t stand a snowball’s chance in hell of becoming McCain’s veep candidate…
No, I’m afraid poor Jack will have to wait until early January 2009 for his full pardon, by then having served around half his sentence. Kenny Boy will also have served part of his sentence by then too…
Pity, these calendars…
Again you have to ask which prison he will be doin his time in. My bet is one of those white collar crime prisons…you know, the ones without the walls (and the group showers)….pitty.