Political consultant sentenced for imprisoning students
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
By Gabrielle Banks, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A
veteran GOP consultant was sentenced today to 5 to 10 years in prison for luring two male college students into his home on separate occasions, holding them captive in his spartan apartment and threatening them with Mafia retaliation if they contacted their friends or family.
A jury convicted Leon Abramovitz, of Shadyside, in July on charges of theft, coercion, false imprisonment, unauthorized practice of law, simple assault, indecent assault and making terroristic threats. His victims, 24-year-old and 22-year-old University of Pittsburgh students, were lured into his home with the promise of jobs tailored to their career goals.
He had pleaded guilty to coercing a teenage boy and a 27-year-old and holding them captive in 1999 and 2000.
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The defendant served on the City Council's redistricting committee,
for various Republican politicians and served in the Reagan Administration's office of constituent affairs, said his attorney Ira Houck.
http://www.postgazette.com/pg/06284/729082-100.stmThis republican makes Foley look like a lightweight.