Abramoff starts federal prison term

Jack Abramoff, the former Republican lobbyist once known for lavishing politicians with football tickets or whisking them away on exotic golf junkets, will start life today with a new identity: federal inmate No. 27593-112.

Abramoff is to report to federal prison to begin serving a nearly six-year sentence for a fraudulent deal to buy a fleet of casino ships in Florida. He also is awaiting sentencing for corrupting government officials and their staff members.

Abramoff was originally assigned to a federal prison in Pennsylvania. Prosecutors wanted him assigned to a prison in Maryland. The Justice Department said the issue had been resolved but the Bureau of Prisons would not comment on where Abramoff will report.