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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000847322-05-000019.txt : 20050105
<SEC-HEADER>0000847322-05-000019.hdr.sgml : 20050105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050105172625
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000847322-05-000019
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050103
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050105
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050105

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CRIIMI MAE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000847322
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				521622022
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11200 ROCKVILLE PIKE
		CITY:			ROCKVILLE
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			20852
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3018162300

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CRI INSURED MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MERRICK ROBERT J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001111575

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10360
		FILM NUMBER:		05513701

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3018162300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		28 E SQUARE LANE
		CITY:			RICHMOND
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23233
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>mer242.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-01-03</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000847322</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CRIIMI MAE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CMM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001111575</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MERRICK ROBERT J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>28 EAST SQUARE LANE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RICHMOND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>23233</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-01-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1553</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9522.00</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted stock awarded on 1/3/05 vesting 518 shares on 1/3/06, 517 shares on 1/3/07, 518 shares on 1/3/08.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>-</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Cynthia O. Azzara, Mark A. Libera or Susan B. Railey</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-01-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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