Justice Department Seeks Shorter Sentence For Abramoff

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - The Justice Department filed paperwork on Wednesday seeking a lighter sentence for convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, citing Abramoff's help in a federal corruption probe that has implicated several officials.

Abramoff is currently serving a six-year sentence for charges of conspiracy, fraud and tax evasion. He was convicted by a Florida court in 2006 after pleading guilty to sending a fake wire transfer worth more than $20 million to buy the SunCruz Casino in 2000.

He is due to be sentenced by a Washington, D.C. court to as much as 11 years in prison for unrelated charges of tax evasion, fraud and conspiracy on Sept. 4.

Prosecutors want the court to reduce Abramoff's sentence for his Florida conviction to four years, and the Washington public corruption conviction to five years and for months. They argue that the former lobbyist has assisted in a wide-ranging federal probe that has led to the convictions of officials, including former Justice Department Division Deputy Chief of Staff Robert Coughlin, former Deputy Interior Secretary J. Steven Griles and former Ohio Rep. Bob Ney.

Other officials accused of taking gifts from Abramoff include former Texas Rep. Tom DeLay, Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA). Ney, a former chair of the House Administration Committee, is the only lawmaker to be convicted of fraud charges in connection with Abramoff.

DeLay stepped down as House majority leader after an indictment accused him of misusing campaign funds, and resigned from the House in 2006. His former chief of staff, Tony Rudy, has been convicted of working with Abramoff to bribe officials.