Four indictments returned in FBI's Abscam inquiry

A federal grand jury, returning the first major indictments in the FBI's Abscam investigation, Thursday indicted three Philadelphia City Council members and a lawyer who allegedly led undercover agents to five congressmen. The grand jury in Philadelphia charged all four defendants -- including City Council President George Schwartz -- with racketeering, conspiracy to commit extortion, and attempted extortion in a six-count indictment.

The Abscam (short for "Arab Scam") investigation used Abdul Enterprises Inc., a front company created by the FBI, to allow agents to pose as representatives of a wealthy Arab to buy favors from lawmakers and other officials.