FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The person who fatally shot the founder of SunCruz Casinos in 2001 was killed three years ago, a partner in the purchase of the gambling boat company reportedly told authorities.
Adam Kidan, who purchased the casino with lobbyist Jack Abramoff in 2000, told authorities in a 2 1/2-hour interview last month that John Gurino shot the SunCruz founder, Konstantinos "Gus" Boulis, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported Friday. The paper did not say how it obtained the taped interview.
Gurino's business partner, a deli owner, was convicted of manslaughter last year after arguing that he killed Gurino in self-defense.
Kidan and Abramoff had previously insisted, through their attorneys, that they knew nothing about Boulis' killing. Three other men are charged with murder in the case.
Kidan's attorney, Joseph R. Conway, confirmed Friday that his client did meet with authorities in May, but he would not discuss what was said. Abramoff's attorney in Miami, Neal Sonnett, did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment.
Both Kidan and Abramoff are cooperating with authorities after pleading guilty to fraud and conspiracy charges in the SunCruz purchase. They were sentenced in March to nearly six years in prison for concocting a fake wire transfer to get bank funding for the purchase. Abramoff also pleaded guilty in a federal bribery investigation that is examining his dealings with members of Congress.
The three men charged with murder in Boulis' death are Anthony "Big Tony" Moscatiello, 68; Anthony "Little Tony" Ferrari, 49; and James "Pudgy" Fiorillo, 28. All have pleaded not guilty.
Kidan told investigators he learned the details of the killing from Moscatiello and Ferrari but that he was not told the triggerman's name, the newspaper reported. He said Moscatiello told him in 2004 that the man was dead and he pieced together who it was after learning the man was killed in a Florida deli by his business partner in 2003.
Gurino's brother, Angelo Gurino, told the Sun-Sentinel that he had never heard of the Boulis murder and did not think his brother could been involved.
Assistant State Attorney Brian Cavanagh told the paper he could not discuss the case. Calls placed early Friday by The Associated Press to Cavanagh, Moscatiello attorney David Bogenschutz and Ferrari attorney Michael Becker were not immediately returned.
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