Disgraced Lobbyist Abramoff Accused of Defrauding Greenberg Traurig
A Justice Department sentencing memorandum claims disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff defrauded his employer, Greenberg Traurig, by asking clients to pay fees to different organizations.
The memo says Abramoff directed a wireless company to pay fees due to the law firm to Abramoff’s nonprofit group, the Capital Athletic Foundation, and directed an Indian tribe to pay its fees to a public relations firm owned by an aide to House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, the Daily Business Review reports.
He also was accused of asking his lobbyists to pad their hours to get higher bonuses from the law firm, the story says.
Abramoff was sentenced last week to four years in prison for fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy to bribe public officials.
The Daily Business Review published this statement from Greenberg spokeswoman Jill Perry: “The acts of Jack Abramoff were illegal and a result of his efforts to deceive his clients and his former firm. He was asked to leave our firm more than four years ago. His plea agreement acknowledges that he defrauded Greenberg Traurig, and the restitution order recognizes that our firm was a victim of his illegal acts.”
