SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                            Washington, D.C.  20549




                                   FORM 8-K

                                CURRENT REPORT

     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

     Date of  Report:  (Date of  Earliest  Event  Reported):  October  30,  2003
(October 29, 2003)





                                 CRIIMI MAE INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

        Maryland                     1-10360                   52-1622022
(State or other jurisdiction       (Commission              (I.R.S. Employer
    of incorporation)              File Number)            Identification No.)




                           11200 Rockville Pike
                        Rockville, Maryland  20852
  (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code, of Registrant)

                              (301) 816-2300
            (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)




Item 5.  Other Events

     Attached  as an  exhibit  to this  Current  Report  on Form  8-K is a press
release issued by CRIIMI MAE Inc. (the "Company") on October 29, 2003 announcing
the  appointment  of  Stephen  M.  Abelman  as  Executive  Vice  President-Asset
Management  effective October 29, 2003. The above referenced  document is hereby
incorporated by reference herein.





Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits

     The  following  exhibit is filed as a part of this  Current  Report on Form
8-K:

(c)      Exhibit

99.1     Press Release issued by CRIIMI MAE Inc. on October 29, 2003.





                                 SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


Dated: October 30, 2003                 /s/ Mark Libera
                                        -------------------------------
                                        Vice President and Senior
                                          Corporate Counsel





                                EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
No. Description
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*99.1    Press Release dated October 29, 2003.


*Filed herewith