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Plunder Dome Fallout
Government responds to Cianci's appeal request
Prosecutors have outlined for an appeals court why they think former Providence Mayor Vincent "Buddy" Cianci and his co-defendants should stay in jail.
The U.S. Attorney's office filed this 193 page brief this morning with the First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston.
The government argues Cianci's conviction on one court of racketering conspiracy was fully justified by the evidence presnted during the trial.
Prosecutors say in their brief the jury was right in concluding Cianci was an organizer and leader of the criminal enterprise that operated out of city hall.
Cianci had argued in his appeal the government failed to prove its case.
Cianci also criticized prosecutors for not calling convicted tax official Joseph Pannone to testify...and thus be cross-exmained by defense lawyers.
Instead the government relied on secvretly recorded FBI tapes invlving Pannone and others.
The prosecution says in its brief....
" The evidence of Cianci's involvement in the conpsiracy was not merely circumstanial and it consisted of much more than pannone's taped statements." . Prosecutors specifically cited the testimony of another former tax official David Ead who said he set up three bribes for Cianci.
The former mayor is serving a 5 year four month sentence in the federal prison at Fort Dix New Jersey.
His codenfednats Frank Corrente and Richard Autiello are serving lesser sentences in the federal prison at Fort Devens. Massachusetts.
The lawyers for the three convicted plunder dome defendants now have the opportunity to file so-called reply briefs.
Oral arguments before the appeals court are expected late in the year, perhaps November.
There is no deadline for the appeals court to make a decision.
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