Former R.I. Sen. John Celona Sentenced for Payoffs

John Celona(D), former Senator from Rhode Island was sentenced on Wednesday to 2½ years in federal prison for taking payoffs.

    From the Associated Press:

By Eric Tucker
Associated Press Writer
February 1, 2007

John Celona admitted he abused his position as chairman of a key legislative committee to benefit the drugstore chain CVS Corp., Roger Williams Medical Center and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island.                                       

Prosecutors said the former state senator was paid nearly $320,000 for the favorable treatment.                           

Celona, 53, pleaded guilty in 2005 to three counts of federal mail fraud and cooperated with investigators. He testified as the star witness last fall in a trial that produced convictions of two former hospital executives.                                 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Gerard Sullivan told the judge that Celona's extensive cooperation has led the investigation to seven politicians and seven corporations. Sullivan did not identify anyone being investigated but said FBI agents from other cities have been transferred to Rhode Island to help with the probe.   The Article

  

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