State to seek death against trio in murder case of S. Florida (Abramoff)

[UpInArms]

State to seek death against trio in murder case of S. Florida business tycoon

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-cboulis12jan12,0,4264797.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

The Broward State Attorney's Office plans to seek the death penalty against the three men charged in the gangland-style execution of Miami Subs and SunCruz Casino founder Konstantinos "Gus" Boulis, according to court documents.

Prosecutors filed paperwork last week that they intend to seek the death penalty against Anthony "Big Tony" Moscatiello, Anthony "Little Tony" Ferrari and James "Pudgy" Fiorillo in Boulis' February 2001 murder. Assistant State Attorney Brian Cavanagh, the case's lead prosecutor, declined to discuss the case Wednesday.

Fiorillo's attorney, Assistant Public Defender H. Dohn Williams, said Wednesday he wasn't surprised by the decision. Under Florida law, the prosecutors had a 45-day window after the three defendants' arraignments to declare if they would pursue the death penalty.

<snip>

Boulis was ambushed Feb. 6, 2001, shortly after he left his Fort Lauderdale office. One car stopped in front of his BMW; a second car pulled up alongside the self-made millionaire and sprayed him with bullets that hit his forehead, left arm, heart and lungs.

<snip>

The shooting came four months after Boulis cut a deal to sell SunCruz to a partnership, including Adam Kidan, a New York businessman, and Jack Abramoff, a high-powered Washington lobbyist. The business agreement between Boulis and Kidan had soured, with Boulis trying to regain control of the company when he was shot.

...more...

[Judi Lynn]

1. I can't think of a better time for one of the suspects to consider a deal.

This could have a fascinating impact. From the article:

The shooting came four months after Boulis cut a deal to sell SunCruz to a partnership, including Adam Kidan, a New York businessman, and Jack Abramoff, a high-powered Washington lobbyist. The business agreement between Boulis and Kidan had soured, with Boulis trying to regain control of the company when he was shot.

Kidan and Abramoff have pleaded guilty to lying on financial statements and creating phony documents to persuade lenders to back their SunCruz bid. Court records show that when Kidan ran SunCruz he made payments to companies headed by Moscatiello and Ferrari.

Attorneys for Kidan and Abramoff have said their clients had nothing to do with the slaying. Kidan and Abramoff have agreed to speak with prosecutors in the Boulis case.
(snip)

The only one who can't testify now, "Gus" Boulis.

[UpInArms]

2. Feds probing SunCruz links to GOP

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/front/13260001.htm

Federal investigators are scrutinizing a $10,000 donation made five years ago by SunCruz Casinos to a Republican campaign committee on behalf of an Ohio congressman.

When U.S. Rep. Bob Ney assailed the owner of SunCruz Casinos in 2000, it seemed puzzling that an Ohio lawmaker would go out of his way to attack a South Florida businessman who was trying to sell his floating gaming empire.

It turns out, according to federal investigators, Ney publicly called SunCruz founder Konstantinos ''Gus'' Boulis a ''bad apple'' in exchange for the company's new owners contributing $10,000 -- in his name -- to a national campaign fund to help elect Republicans to Congress.

The latest disclosure is another South Florida link in a long-running Washington scandal that revolves around the influence-peddling of powerful lobbyists who collected tens of millions of dollars from their clients and also led investors to buy Dania Beach-based SunCruz Casinos.

Law enforcement sources say that just weeks after the controversial sale to Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his business partner Adam Kidan in September 2000, the two men took $10,000 from their gambling business and donated the money to the National Republican Congressional Committee on Ney's behalf.

Ney, who has not been charged but has received a federal subpoena from the Justice Department, is being investigated in two public corruption probes -- one in Washington and the other by the U.S. attorney's office in South Florida.

...more...

[Demeter]

3. How Many Death Sentences Could We Get From This?

How many "untouchables" in Congress could go on Death Row?

Give Justice a Chance!

A girl can dream, can't she?

[UpInArms]

4. Today's Dream can be Tomorrow's Reality

Keep dreaming, Demeter!

:thumbsup: