Exclusive Investigation
The Plunder Dome Tapes: Part Four, It Isn't Necessary
Let's get right to the exclusive investigation and the newest information on the Plunder Dome corruption tapes.
Eyewitness News has all the secret FBI tapes used in the trial of former mayor Vincent Cianci. And Cianci's top aide is caught on two tapes accepting bribes in his office. Some people suggest it was Corrente who actually managed the day-to-day business of the city. He made things happen with a single phone call. But it was his taped conversations with Antonio Freitas that were his downfall.
It was a classic bribe. A businessman who wants a lucrative lease with the city outs ten, one hundred dollar bills in an envelope and pays off the official who can make it happen.
The official, Frank Corrente, tells the businessman, Antonio Freitas, the money isn't necessary.
Corrente was on tape taking another $1,000 bribe from Freitas, and prosecutors charged he shared tens of thousands of dollars in kickbacks with his boss, Providence Mayor Vincent "Buddy" Cianci.
City tax official Joseph Pannone was captured on the secret FBI tapes telling Freitas he has to pay Corrente and Cianci to get things done.
The FBI had been working for months, gathering information about city contracts and leases, about tow truck operators being extorted for illegal campaign contributions to Cianci and about the Mayor's role in the exclusive University Club's battle with the city to get renovation permits. But Freitas didn't think the FBI had a clue.
Pannone claimed Cianci would learn where the money came from and in response would grant favors to Freitas.
Cianci denied any illegal dealings with Pannone. Cianci said at one point "What does he think. I'm running corruption one-oh-one over here at city hall."
Unfortunately for Cianci, the jurors thought he was.
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