In September 2002, Young sought to intervene with the General Services Administration on behalf of Abramoff, who at that time was seeking preferential treatment for a group of his Tribal clients who were bidding on a proposal to develop the Old Post Office Complex site in Washington, DC. Although Young merely wrote two letters to the GSA recommending the tribe’s business consortium, he received a $7,000 contribution from two of the partners in the deal. Irregularities in this business deal have led to the indictments and convictions of David Savafian, GSA chief of Staff, former Congressman Bob Ney of Ohio, and Ambramoff. [GSA aide’s trial displays e-mails aiding Abramoff, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Sabrina Eaton, May 25, 2006 ‘Young & Abramoff’, Anchorage Daily News, February 2, 2006]

On November 21, 2005 Abramoff’s partner Michael Scanlon pleaded guilty to conspiring to bribe a member of Congress and other public officials.

On January 3, 2006, Abramoff pled guilty to three felony counts, conspiracy, fraud, and tax evasion, involving charges stemming principally from his lobbying activities.

In February 2006, the Anchorage Daily News published an editorial and a story that covered some of the Young-Abramoff links detailed above. Young responded on February 7, 2006 with a long letter to the editor of the News. Young claimed, quite falsely, “I have never had any personal or professional relationship with Abramoff.” Young concluded, “I find the Daily News’ editorial suggesting an unethical link between myself and Abramoff to be reprehensible. You need to get your opinions [sic] straight and quit attacking my integrity.” The Anchorage Daily News followed up on February 19, 2006, with an article detailing some of the Young-Abramoff links.

Over the years, Abramoff’s clients donated at least $32,208 to Young.