Abramoff Firm Indicted on Theft, Conspiracy
Abramoff, His Firm and Guam Official Indicted on Nine Felony Counts
BY JUSTIN ROOD
March 13, 2008—
Jack Abramoff's old lobby firm has been slapped with its first indictment stemming from his misdeeds.
The attorney general for Guam issued an indictment Monday against the Greenberg Traurig firm, Abramoff and a former Guam government official on nine felony counts of theft, conspiracy and misconduct.
"We strongly deny these charges and are confident we will prevail when all the facts are known," said firm spokeswoman Jill Perry in an e-mail. "We have cooperated with all law enforcement agencies and congressional investigations and made sure that any former clients were fairly treated. We will address this matter in the same spirit."
It is believed to be the first time Greenberg Traurig has faced indictment in connection to their disgraced former superstar lobbyist, although Perry did not confirm that.
From 2001 to 2003, the indictment alleges, Guam Superior Court official Anthony P. Sanchez funneled $324,000 in public funds to Abramoff and Greenberg Traurig in a series of $9,000 checks, disguised as payments to a third party. The court reportedly wanted Abramoff to keep it from becoming subject to rulings by the Guam Supreme Court. Abramoff agreed to represent the court at a meeting at his Washington, D.C. restaurant, Signatures, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The payments, which were publicly reported in U.S. papers in 2005, had formed the basis of a 2002 investigation by the U.S. attorney for the region at the time, Frederick Black.
On Nov. 19, 2002, Black obtained a grand jury subpoena to force Sanchez to release records about the payments. The next day the White House announced it was replacing Black, who had served in an acting capacity for 10 years, with a permanent U.S. attorney. The investigation ended without indictments.
This post has been updated.