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Part six of an Eyewitness News exclusive investigation. Tonight the final part of our special investigative report ďż˝ the Plunder Dome tapes. The Plunder Dome investigation was in full swing when one of the targets of the probe got a mysterious phone call.  It was no secret that the FBI had been looking at Frank Corrente, who was Mayor Vincent ďż˝Buddyďż˝ Cianciďż˝s administration director. But no one knew the extent of the FBI investigation.
David Ead, a former cop, prided himself on being able to tell whom to trust. When he met businessman Antonio Freitas, he trusted him and that�s what he says he told Mayor Vincent �Buddy� Cianci.
He told Freitas to be wary of his fellow city tax official Joseph Pannone - he talks too much, Ead said.
And, he said, be leery of meeting with Frank Corrente - because the FBI is snooping around. Then, on March 13, 1999, Ead showed up at Freitas� office, which had been bugged for months by the FBI, and said he was returning the bribe money. Ead had claimed earlier that he had arranged a $10,000 bribe that Freitas was to pay Mayor Cianci - whom Ead called the man downtown and the big guy - in exchange for two vacant lots the city owned. Out of the camera�s view, Ead told Freitas why he wanted out of the deal.
A little less than a month later, Joseph Pannone and David Ead were arrested and charged with money laundering for bribes and extortion. Deputy tax assessor Rosemary Glancy was next. Tax collector Anthony Annarino was charged. Lawyers John Scungio and Angelo Mosca were implicated. And in the final round of indictments, multiple charges were brought against Frank Corrente, mayoral aide Artin Coloian, tow truck company operator  Richard Autiello, convicted felon Edward Voccola and the Mayor of Providence, Vincent ďż˝Buddyďż˝ Cianci.
Ead turned government witness, Coloian was found not guilty, and the charges against Voccola were dismissed. All the others either pleaded guilty or were found guilty at trial, including the longest serving mayor in Providence history, Vincent �Buddy� Cianci.
And that�s the tale of the plunder dome tapes.
Jack White, Eyewitness News.