Lawyers asking for light Abramoff sentence

WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- Lawyers for disgraced businessman Jack Abramoff have asked a U.S. District Court judge in Washington to go easy on their client.

Abramoff's attorneys argued in court documents filed with U.S. District Court Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle that because of his cooperation Abramoff should get a lighter sentence than the one the Justice Department agreed to under a plea deal, the Washington Times said Friday. Abramoff is due to be sentenced next Thursday.

Federal prosecutors had called for a prison sentence of five years and four months for Abramoff, who pleaded guilty to fraud and tax evasion charges stemming from bribes he gave to multiple public officials.

Since being arrested and imprisoned in November 2006, Abramoff has provided the Justice Department with information that has led to guilty pleas from a dozen other defendants.

The Times said that cooperation earned him a reduced sentence recommendation from the federal department, but his lawyers feel it qualifies him for an even lighter sentence.