Herald.com | 08/17/2005 | Cops to quiz high-powered lobbyist about Boulis murder

BY WANDA J. DeMARZO

wdemarzo@herald.com


Homicide investigators have sent a letter to a Miami attorney asking for a sit-down with his client, high-powered Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who said he would be willing to speak to them about the murder of Miami Subs mogul Konstantinos ''Gus'' Boulis.

Fort Lauderdale police Detective Mark Shotwell sent the letter to lawyer Neal Sonnett Tuesday, requesting an interview with Abramoff, who was charged last week with swindling lenders in the purchase of SunCruz Casinos in 2000.

''We are very interested in speaking with Mr. Abramoff and we're glad to hear that he wants to cooperate,'' Shotwell said.

``Our position is that Jack Abramoff is high enough in the food chain that we'd very much like to speak to him and hear what he has to say. It should have happened a long time ago.''

Sonnett said his client had expected to meet with homicide investigators after Boulis was gunned down Feb. 6, 2001, as he was driving home to Hollywood on a dimly lit street in Fort Lauderdale.

''He's always been willing to cooperate,'' Sonnett said. ``There was an overture years ago by the police department, but they never followed through. Jack never knew anything about the murder case. And they know he doesn't.''

Fort Lauderdale detectives have a different take on it.

Investigators say they tried to interview Abramoff several times in the spring of 2001.

Abramoff never kept the appointments.

''We'd be all ready to meet with him on a particular day, and then something would come up, his office would say,'' Shotwell said.

'We'd get a call from his office -- `We're so sorry, but Mr. Abramoff is delayed in Washington,' or 'Mr. Abramoff would like to meet with you, but something unexpected came up.' It was one of those type things where he'd make himself available and then when the time came, he wasn't.''

Abramoff, 46, and 41-year-old Adam Kidan were charged last week with conspiracy and wire fraud for allegedly scheming to defraud two lenders in the $147 million purchase of SunCruz Casinos fleet of offshore gambling boats. Both men pleaded not guilty and are free on bond.

Police have questioned Kidan several times in the past about the gangland-style hit on the 51-year-old Boulis, gunned down at the wheel of his Mercedes-Benz just blocks from his Fort Lauderdale office.

As the SunCruz deal soured, Kidan and Boulis repeatedly threatened each other.

Now detectives hope the indictments will lead to information about Boulis' murder.

While police have not named a suspect, they believe either man could have information that might move the investigation forward.

Investigators say Kidan's attorney, Martin Jaffe, will get a letter by the end of the week requesting a similar interview.