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Abramoff a target in federal bank fraud probe
Monday, May 2, 2005

The Washington Post on Sunday published a lengthy article about disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff's involvement in a $145 million failed casino deal that has led to a federal bank fraud investigation.

Abramoff is a "target" in the grand jury investigation, The Post reports. Along with a business partner with alleged ties to the Mafia, Abramoff is alleged to have defrauded a lender by faking a $23 million bank wire transfer.

According to the paper, Abramoff and the partner, Adam Kidan, agreed to buy SunCruz, a fleet of casino ships based in Florida for $145 million. Two lenders agreed to loan the pair $60 million to buy the company -- if they put up $23 million of their own.

The money never materialized. But somehow, a wire transfer indicating the men had the money was created, prompting a lawsuit in federal court and triggering the federal investigation. Abramoff's lawyer said he couldn't discuss the matter but said he would be cleared.

Get the Story:
Untangling a Lobbyist's Stake in a Casino Fleet (The Washington Post 5/2)
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