Judge delays Abramoff prison sentence start

? A judge agreed Thursday to again put off prison for disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and a former business partner, but the delays were shorter than what lawyers on both sides sought.

Federal prosecutors and defense lawyers had jointly requested delays of 90 days beyond Monday’s scheduled prison surrender date so Abramoff can continue to cooperate in a Washington corruption investigation, and Adam Kidan can provide more information about the gangland-style murder of former SunCruz Casinos owner Konstantinos Boulis.

U.S. District Judge Paul Huck reluctantly agreed to let Abramoff remain free until Nov. 15, and Adam Kidan until Oct. 23.

“I don’t feel good about this,” Huck said. “My main concern is, there comes a time when people have to pay the piper, so to speak. I think that time has come.”

Abramoff and Kidan were each sentenced to nearly six years in prison after they pleaded guilty to charges of concocting a fake wire transfer to close a deal in 2000 to buy SunCruz Casinos from Boulis, who was shot down the following year.