MIAMI, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- FBI agents Thursday searched for once-powerful Washington lobbyist and Republican insider Jack Abramoff after he was indicted by a federal grand jury.
A grand jury in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., indicted Abramoff and his partner businessman Adam Kidan -- former owner of the Dial-A-Mattress franchise in Washington -- on charges of wire fraud for allegedly scheming to bilk lenders of $147.5 million in the September 2000 purchase of SunCruz Casinos, a South Florida casino cruise line.
Abramoff, 46, a lawyer, also is a key figure in the ethics investigations of fundraising and political activities of House Majority Leader Tom Delay, R-Tex., the Washington Post reported.
Court records indicated Abramoff used revenue from the bankrupt casino empire for fundraising and entertainment of major GOP donors and politicians.
The Post said the 41-year-old Kidan planned to surrender to federal authorities in New York City Friday morning.
