MSNBC: Ex-associate of Abramoff could plead guilty

[ProSense]

Ex-associate of Abramoff could plead guilty
Former partner charged with fraud, conspiracy

The Associated Press
Updated: 4:02 p.m. ET Dec. 9, 2005


MIAMI - A federal judge has scheduled a hearing for next week at which a former business associate of Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff could plead guilty to charges arising from the 2000 purchase of SunCruz Casinos’ gambling fleet.

Plea agreements in federal criminal cases usually require the defendant to cooperate with prosecutors in return for a reduced prison sentence. That means if Adam Kidan pleads guilty he could be required to provide evidence against Abramoff and possibly testify against the lobbyist.

U.S. District Judge Paul C. Huck scheduled the “change of plea” hearing for Kidan for Thursday, the judge’s office said.

Kidan and Abramoff were indicted in August on charges of conspiracy, mail fraud and wire fraud. Prosecutors say they faked a $23 million wire transfer to make it appear they were putting a sizable chunk of their own money into the $147.5 million SunCruz deal.


http://msnbc.msn.com/id/10399956/