FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Three men have been arrested in the 2001 ambush slaying of Miami businessman Konstantinos "Gus" Boulis, a murder that happened a few months after he sold a fleet of casino boats to prominent Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff and a partner.

Police would not comment on whether they received any help from Abramoff or his former partner, Adam Kidan. Both men were indicted in August on federal fraud charges in connection with their September 2000 purchase of SunCruz Casinos for $147.5 million.

"All the pieces of evidence, all the statements that have been taken, all the witnesses have led us to this point," said police Capt. Michael Gregory.

Boulis, a 51-year-old Greek immigrant who founded both SunCruz and the Miami Subs sandwich chain, was shot to death at the wheel of his car shortly after leaving his office in February 2001. Witnesses said a car pulled in front of Boulis, forcing him to stop, while another car pulled along the driver's side and someone shot Boulis three times.

The slaying came amid bitter legal fighting over the SunCruz sale, including a physical altercation in which Kidan told police that Boulis had attacked him with a pen, drawing blood. Court documents also show that Kidan had hired bodyguards and ordered an armored Mercedes-Benz.

Lawyers for Abramoff and Kidan, who face trial Jan. 9 on the fraud charges, have said neither man knows anything about Boulis' murder. But at least one of the men arrested has ties to Kidan, according to court documents filed in an unrelated civil case.

Police arrested Anthony "Big Tony" Moscatiello, 67, on Monday night at his New York City home on charges of murder, solicitation of murder and conspiracy. Moscatiello waived extradition yesterday and will be taken to Florida to face the charges.

Moscatiello and his daughter were paid $145,000 by SunCruz — then controlled by Kidan and Abramoff — for catering, consulting and site inspections, according to the civil-court documents.

Also arrested Monday night on murder, solicitation and conspiracy charges was Anthony "Little Tony" Ferrari, 48, at his home in North Miami Beach. He was being held pending an initial court appearance today.

A third man, James "Pudgy" Fiorillo, 28, was taken into custody yesterday at his home in Palm Coast, Fla.

A grand-jury indictment detailing the murder charges remained sealed, and it was unclear what roles the three men are alleged to have played.

The federal fraud indictment charges that Abramoff and Kidan used a fake wire transfer to defraud two lenders out of $60 million to finance the deal to buy SunCruz from Boulis. The transfer made it appear that the two had contributed $23 million of their own money in the deal, but they had not, prosecutors said.

Abramoff was once a close associate of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, and raised thousands of dollars for President Bush's re-election campaign and for GOP congressional candidates. Abramoff is also under investigation in Washington for lobbying activities on behalf of Indian tribes and for his role in paying for overseas trips for DeLay.

Both Abramoff and Kidan have pleaded not guilty in the SunCruz fraud case.

Material from The Washington Post is included in this report