Washington lobbyist gets 70 months for Miami fraud

MIAMI, Mar 29 (Reuters) Jack Abramoff, a disgraced lobbyist at the heart of a Washington influence-peddling scandal that has rattled top Republicans, was sentenced to nearly six years in prison today for fraud in the purchase of a Florida casino cruise line.

Abramoff, who is cooperating in a federal investigation into whether Washington politicians gave his clients favorable treatment in exchange for campaign contributions, Super Bowl tickets and other illegal gifts, was sentenced to 5 years and 10 months in prison.

Abramoff, along with co-defendant Adam Kidan, was ordered to pay 21.7 million dollar in restitution. Kidan was also sentenced to 5 years and 10 months in prison.

Abramoff pleaded guilty in a Miami federal court in January to conspiracy and wire fraud charges, acknowledging he faked documents to get a 60 million dollar loan to buy the SunCruz fleet of gambling ships in 2000.

The documents falsely claimed Abramoff and business partner Kidan had put 23 million dollar of their own money into the deal.

Abramoff also pleaded guilty in January to conspiracy and fraud charges in Washington, admitting he showered golf trips, meals, sports tickets and other gifts on lawmakers in return for actions that would help his clients.

Federal investigators were examining Abramoff's links to a number of Washington politicians, including former House Majority leader Tom DeLay of Texas and Republican Rep. Bob Ney of Ohio. DeLay and Ney have denied any wrongdoing.

In a recent Vanity Fair interview, Abramoff said that he worked closely with many top Republicans and said if they denied it, they were lying.

Abramoff and Kidan bought SunCruz from Konstantinos ''Gus'' Boulis, who was shot dead in an ambush on a street in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in February 2001. Three men were charged in the killing last year.

Abramoff and Kidan have both said they know nothing about Boulis' death.

REUTERS SK RN0049