Abramoff Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison

By Mike Scarcella

Disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, the one-time influential power broker whose bribes and swindles ended the careers of more than a dozen people, was sentenced today to four years in prison for fraud, tax evasion, and conspiracy to bribe public officials.

He faced 11 years in prison under the federal sentencing guidelines. Prosecutors, citing Abramoff's cooperation in an ongoing FBI influence-peddling investigation, had recommended a sentence of five years and four months, with credit for the nearly two years Abramoff already has served in prison for a fraudulent business deal in Florida. His lawyers had asked for even less.

Abramoff, addressing Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle of U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in prison-issued khaki shirt and pants, pleaded for leniency. "I come before you a broken man," he said.

Huvelle said she was departing from the guidelines because of his cooperation -- he spent thousands of hours with investigators and reviewed more than half a million documents, his lawyers have said -- but the judge refused to credit him the two years he has served in the Florida case. Huvelle said Abramoff had undermined the public's confidence in government.

Comments

[Jonathan Richards- Former Federal Prison Inmate]

Really, 4 years white collar is Federal Prison Camp time. Yes, it is prison, but he is not subject to real violence or danger. Indeed, there is not even a fence to prevent escape. To be sure, not a spot you want to spend time if you can help it, but there are far worse prisons out there.

[Dr. Gene Nelson]

I attended the hearing in DC District Court today. I have been following the case for several years. (To learn more about my involvement, please google the phrase "Abramoff Visa" - there are 66 links as of 09 04 08.) My most recent article was published in January, 2008, "The Greedy Gates Immigration Gambit." http://www.thesocialcontract.com/pdf/eighteen-one/tsc_18_1_nelson.pdf

In my view, there is very strong basis in law for the sentence. More "big" catches are on the way was a point raised repeatedly by both the prosecution and the defense.

[victoria2dc]

Do you feel that the sentencing has some basis in law, or was it a sentence with a political punch?

I've heard people say both. I've also heard that there will be some more "big" catches in the next few weeks that came from his work. Do you know anything about that from court documents?