WP: Plea Deal Near With 2nd Abramoff Associate (Kidan will cooperate)

[DeepModem Mom]

Plea Deal Near With 2nd Abramoff Associate
Kidan Has Agreed to Cooperate in Probes

By Susan Schmidt and James V. Grimaldi
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, December 9, 2005; Page A08


Federal prosecutors have all but finalized a plea agreement with a second business partner of former lobbyist Jack Abramoff in exchange for cooperation in the ongoing criminal investigations of Abramoff, congressional aides and Rep. Robert W. Ney (R-Ohio), lawyers in the case said yesterday.

Adam Kidan, a longtime confidant of Abramoff's, has agreed to testify against Abramoff in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., next month when he is to face trial on fraud and conspiracy charges in connection with their purchase of a fleet of Florida casino boats. A Kidan plea would tie Abramoff's legal troubles in Florida more closely to the Washington investigation into his lobbying practices, pressuring Abramoff to reach a deal of his own that could implicate members of Congress and other government officials, lawyers involved in the case said.

More than two weeks ago, another Abramoff business partner -- public relations executive Michael Scanlon -- reached a plea deal in Washington and agreed to cooperate in the wide-ranging bribery probe.

Kidan, who has known Abramoff since their student days when they were members of the College Republicans, has agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy and wire fraud in connection with the purchase of the SunCruz fleet in the fall of 2000.

"Adam will testify against Abramoff and Ney if he is given an opportunity to do so," said Joseph Conway, an attorney for Kidan....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/08/AR2005120802232.html