[[Michael Abbell]] is a former official of the [[United States Department of Justice|U.S. Department of Justice]] who later became a central figure in investigations related to drug trafficking and money laundering, particularly involving the [[Cali Drug Cartel]].[1] ### Career in the Justice Department Abbell served as a staff assistant to the Assistant U.S. Attorney General from 1973 to 1979. From 1979 to 1982, he held the position of Director of the Office of International Affairs of the Criminal Division of the [[United States Department of Justice|Department of Justice]].[1] ### Post-DOJ Career and Allegations After leaving the [[United States Department of Justice|Department of Justice]] in 1984, Abbell joined the law firm of [[Kaplan, Russin and Becchi]], which had offices in various international locations, including Bogota, Colombia. He was later associated with his own firm, [[Ristau and Abbell]], in Washington D.C., with [[Bruno Ristau]] as his partner.[1] Abbell was indicted in Miami on June 6, 1995, for laundering money for the [[Cali Drug Cartel]]. Surveillance reports indicated he made frequent visits to the home of [[Gilberto Rodriguez]], a leader of the Cali Cartel, in Bogota, Colombia. He was subsequently prosecuted and served a prison term.[1] ### Connections to "The Octopus" Investigation Abbell's activities became a significant focus of investigative journalist [[Danny Casolaro]]'s "[[The Octopus]]" probe during the last week of Casolaro's life. Casolaro had discovered a connection between Abbell, the [[Cali Drug Cartel]], and [[Robert Booth Nichols]], an international intelligence operative.[1] [[Michael Riconosciuto]] claimed that Abbell, [[Robert Booth Nichols]], and [[Gilberto Rodriguez]] were "all in bed together." Riconosciuto also alleged that Nichols provided Abbell with $50,000 in cash to handle an internal affairs investigation within the [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]] that would have led to the extradition of Cali Cartel leaders [[Gilberto Rodriguez]] and [[Jose Londono]], whom Nichols reportedly considered "intelligence people."[1] --- ### Footnotes [1] Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010.