DOJ: Jack Abramoff Should Forfeit $500K Tax Refund

[babylonsister]

$500K??? :wow:


Abramoff Should Forfeit Tax Refund, Justice Dept. Says

By James V. Grimaldi
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, May 21, 2009; 7:58 PM


Convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff should not be allowed to use his tax refund of more than $500,000 to pay back his lawyers, accountants and others because he has yet to make restitution for the millions of dollars he defrauded from Indian tribes he represented, the Justice Department says.

Abramoff, who has been in prison since 2006, received a $520,189 refund from the IRS on May 4. After his lawyers notified the government, Justice asked a federal judge today to stop Abramoff from paying his bills.

Under the restitution order by U.S. District Judge Ellen S. Huvelle, Abramoff and former associate Michael Scanlon still owe more than $23 million to the tribes. Abramoff was not expected to be able to make payments until after he got out of prison, the government said. However, "Mr. Abramoff was required by statute to apply the value of that refund to his restitution obligation, notwithstanding that the money was received while he was in prison and before the payment schedule had taken effect," the Justice Department filing said.

The reasons for the large tax refund were not explained in the court filings. Abramoff's lead attorney, Abbe D. Lowell, did not return telephone calls seeking comment today.

more...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/21/AR2009052103997.html

[suchadeal]

1. Surely, Jack still has some friends who could help him

Times must be tough if Jack can't find a string to pull.