Abramoff the Angel?

Jack Abramoff was sentenced to almost six years in prison for fraud and apparently more than 260 people wrote letters to the judge on Abramoff's behalf, pleading for leniency in sentencing. Many of the letters focused on what Jack did with the money he stole from Native American tribes and others, like donating it to charity and picking up the tab when going out to eat with friends who couldn't afford the food at his downtown restaurant, Signatures.

So according to these 260+ people (including a rabbi), the illegal activities that Abramoff participated in, the millions of dollars that he stole, that wasn't his to begin with, is all ok, because he gave some of it to charity? In other words, the ends justify the means. Don't punish him too bad- he's a good boy deep down.

Is Jack Abramoff just another Robin Hood? Are his sins to be excused just because he gave to charity? Is a good deed still pure if it comes because of a bad one?

If you were head of a charity who received tainted money, would you still use it or would you simply not accept it?

How are we to look at the seemingly good things that Abramoff (and other criminals) did in light of the overwhelming evidence proving how corrupt he really was?