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Italia Federici set for guilty plea for Abramoff
Friday, June 8, 2007
Filed Under: Abramoff Scandal

Italia Federici, the head of the Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy, is set to plead guilty at a federal court hearing in Washington, D.C.

Federici was charged with tax evasion and obstructing the Senate Indian Affairs Committee's investigation of lobbyist Jack Abramoff. She agreed to plead guilty and cooperate with federal investigators.

According to the factual basis for the charges, Federici acted as a "conduit" between Abramoff and former Interior Department deputy secretary J. Steven Griles, who pleaded guilty for lying to Congress. The document lists the following actions Federici took:

• Arranged a dinner for Abramoff's tribal clients and top DOI officials, including Griles and former Interior Secretary Gale Norton;
• Arranged for Griles to seek information about $1.3 million in federal funds for the Coushatta Tribe, one of Abramoff's clients;
• Discussed how Griles could derail a land-into-trust application for the Gun Lake Band of Michigan, whose proposed casino could affect the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe, an Abramoff client;
• Discussed how Griles could derail a land-into-trust application for the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians in Louisiana; whose proposed casino could affect the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians; Abramoff's two biggest clients;
• Discussed how Griles could help the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts, a pro-bono Abramoff client, complete the federal recognition process at the Bureau of Indian Affairs;
• Discussed how Griles could help obtain $3 million for the Saginaw Chipppewa Tribe for a school construction project;

Finally, Federici decided to stop helping Abramoff. Griles told her to tell the lobbyist he was no longer in charge of Indian matters, the factual basis said.

The hearing takes place at 10am in the federal district courthouse.

Get the Story:
Indian Gaming Loss (CBS News 6/6)

US v Federici:
Charge | Factual Basis

Senate Indian Affairs Committee Abramoff Report:
“GIMME FIVE”— INVESTIGATION OF TRIBAL LOBBYING MATTERS (June 2006)

Exhibits:
Pre-2001 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | Undated | Finance

Relevant Links:
Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy - http://www.crea-online.org

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