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Campaign for Justice
Mayor's brother, 3
others, indicted in
alleged scheme By Ray Henry, Associated Press
Writer | January 5, 2007 PROVIDENCE, R.I. --Two lawyers -- including the brother of the mayor
of corruption-plagued Providence -- offered to set up a drug deal so clients could get a lighter
sentence by alerting authorities, according to an indictment unsealed Friday. The
Boston-based federal grand jury named John M. Cicilline, 49, brother of Mayor David Cicilline,
and Joseph Bevilacqua Jr., 57, a disbarred lawyer who worked with John Cicilline. Also
charged with conspiracy were paralegals and interpreters Lisa Torres, 39, and Juan Giraldo,
41. John Cicilline and Torres were also charged with obstruction of justice and making false
statements to federal investigators. Cicilline pleaded not guilty Friday and was released in lieu
of $10,000 bond. He did not comment outside court. Torres did not enter a plea and was
ordered held. Bevilacqua, who is currently ending a federal prison term in home confinement,
could not be transported in time for the hearing, said Samantha Martin, a spokeswoman for the
U.S. Attorney in Boston. Giraldo is serving time in a federal prison for a drug conviction and
also was not at Friday's hearing, Martin said. Cicilline faces a maximum of 25 years in prison,
five years more than Torres, Martin said. Bevilacqua and Giraldo both face five-year sentences.
The mayor, who had his own law practice before he was first elected in 2002, is not accused of
any wrongdoing. "Today's charges should make it clear that justice is not for sale," U.S.
Attorney Michael Sullivan said in a written statement. He said that it was especially troubling
that the allegations involve lawyers, who are expected to conduct themselves with high ethical
standards. "A license to practice law and knowledge of the law does not allow you to break the
law," said June W. Stansbury, special agent in charge of the federal Drug Enforcement
Administration in New England. "As these attorneys have learned, you can go from being a
member of the Bar to being behind bars," Stansbury said in a statement. Federal prosecutors
allege that in November 2002, Bevilacqua met in jail with John Mendonca, who was arrested
that August in Warwick, allegedly with marijuana and about $1.3 million in cash. His wife,
Jacqueline, was also charged. According to the indictment, Bevilacqua told Mendonca that if he
was willing to pay several hundred thousand dollars, Bevilacqua could arrange for someone to
tell federal authorities about drug shipments -- but that Mendonca and his wife would get credit
for the information. Defendants who cooperate with federal prosecutors are eligible for
reduced prison sentences. After receiving the money, Bevilacqua met with Mendonca at a
Plymouth, Mass., jail and explained how Mendonca would get credit for a 900-pound marijuana
bust that Giraldo had set up, as well as a 1,000-pound bust that Giraldo was still arranging.
Prosecutors wouldn't comment Friday on whether those drug shipments were made or
whether any drug information was ever passed to federal authorities. Mendonca appeared
skeptical of the plot, according to the indictment. He asked how he could receive credit for a
drug shipment he knew nothing about. According to the indictment, Bevilacqua responded:
"You'll have all the info," The indictment also accuses Bevilacqua of pressuring John
Mendonca to plead guilty. He allegedly called the guilty plea a prerequisite for the Mendoncas
to receive credit for the drug busts. "You go to trial, all this is off, you won't get credit for it," he
warned Mendonca. Prosecutors say both lawyers met with Jacqueline Mendonca to seal the
deal. Authorities allege that Torres pretended to prosecutors she was a close friend of
Mendonca's wife willing to act as an informant. Giraldo allegedly accepted at least some of the
payments. The Mendoncas pleaded guilty to charges in their drug case, but they have not yet
been sentenced. Separately, Bevilacqua was disbarred and sent to prison after he admitted
leaking an FBI videotape to a TV reporter. The tape showed an aide to Mayor Cicilline's
predecessor, Vincent "Buddy" Cianci, accepting a cash bribe. Bevilacqua's prison term was to
end Jan. 17. The Cicilline brothers are sons of John F. Cicilline, a lawyer who has defended
some of New England's most notorious mobsters, including the late Providence godfather
Raymond L.S. Patriarca. David Cicilline has cultivated a reputation for cleaning up City Hall
following decades of corruption presided over by Cianci, who's currently serving time in a
federal prison. The mayor was sworn in for a second term Wednesday. In a news conference
in his office, David Cicilline said he was not aware his brother was being investigated. The
mayor, his voice quavering, said he spoke with his brother Friday morning to tell him he loved
him and would be there to support him and his three daughters. The mayor said he did not
think his brother's conduct was a reflection on him or the city of Providence, which has been
plagued by corruption for decades. "My record is clear. I've worked really hard with a team of
people to restore honesty and integrity to this city," he said, adding, "I'm not concerned about
the impact it's having on me." ------ Associated Press writers Michelle R. Smith in Providence
and Mark Jewell in Boston contributed to this report.
© Copyright <http://www.boston.com/help/bostoncom_info/copyright> 2006 The New York
Times Company
others, indicted in
alleged scheme By Ray Henry, Associated Press
Writer | January 5, 2007 PROVIDENCE, R.I. --Two lawyers -- including the brother of the mayor
of corruption-plagued Providence -- offered to set up a drug deal so clients could get a lighter
sentence by alerting authorities, according to an indictment unsealed Friday. The
Boston-based federal grand jury named John M. Cicilline, 49, brother of Mayor David Cicilline,
and Joseph Bevilacqua Jr., 57, a disbarred lawyer who worked with John Cicilline. Also
charged with conspiracy were paralegals and interpreters Lisa Torres, 39, and Juan Giraldo,
41. John Cicilline and Torres were also charged with obstruction of justice and making false
statements to federal investigators. Cicilline pleaded not guilty Friday and was released in lieu
of $10,000 bond. He did not comment outside court. Torres did not enter a plea and was
ordered held. Bevilacqua, who is currently ending a federal prison term in home confinement,
could not be transported in time for the hearing, said Samantha Martin, a spokeswoman for the
U.S. Attorney in Boston. Giraldo is serving time in a federal prison for a drug conviction and
also was not at Friday's hearing, Martin said. Cicilline faces a maximum of 25 years in prison,
five years more than Torres, Martin said. Bevilacqua and Giraldo both face five-year sentences.
The mayor, who had his own law practice before he was first elected in 2002, is not accused of
any wrongdoing. "Today's charges should make it clear that justice is not for sale," U.S.
Attorney Michael Sullivan said in a written statement. He said that it was especially troubling
that the allegations involve lawyers, who are expected to conduct themselves with high ethical
standards. "A license to practice law and knowledge of the law does not allow you to break the
law," said June W. Stansbury, special agent in charge of the federal Drug Enforcement
Administration in New England. "As these attorneys have learned, you can go from being a
member of the Bar to being behind bars," Stansbury said in a statement. Federal prosecutors
allege that in November 2002, Bevilacqua met in jail with John Mendonca, who was arrested
that August in Warwick, allegedly with marijuana and about $1.3 million in cash. His wife,
Jacqueline, was also charged. According to the indictment, Bevilacqua told Mendonca that if he
was willing to pay several hundred thousand dollars, Bevilacqua could arrange for someone to
tell federal authorities about drug shipments -- but that Mendonca and his wife would get credit
for the information. Defendants who cooperate with federal prosecutors are eligible for
reduced prison sentences. After receiving the money, Bevilacqua met with Mendonca at a
Plymouth, Mass., jail and explained how Mendonca would get credit for a 900-pound marijuana
bust that Giraldo had set up, as well as a 1,000-pound bust that Giraldo was still arranging.
Prosecutors wouldn't comment Friday on whether those drug shipments were made or
whether any drug information was ever passed to federal authorities. Mendonca appeared
skeptical of the plot, according to the indictment. He asked how he could receive credit for a
drug shipment he knew nothing about. According to the indictment, Bevilacqua responded:
"You'll have all the info," The indictment also accuses Bevilacqua of pressuring John
Mendonca to plead guilty. He allegedly called the guilty plea a prerequisite for the Mendoncas
to receive credit for the drug busts. "You go to trial, all this is off, you won't get credit for it," he
warned Mendonca. Prosecutors say both lawyers met with Jacqueline Mendonca to seal the
deal. Authorities allege that Torres pretended to prosecutors she was a close friend of
Mendonca's wife willing to act as an informant. Giraldo allegedly accepted at least some of the
payments. The Mendoncas pleaded guilty to charges in their drug case, but they have not yet
been sentenced. Separately, Bevilacqua was disbarred and sent to prison after he admitted
leaking an FBI videotape to a TV reporter. The tape showed an aide to Mayor Cicilline's
predecessor, Vincent "Buddy" Cianci, accepting a cash bribe. Bevilacqua's prison term was to
end Jan. 17. The Cicilline brothers are sons of John F. Cicilline, a lawyer who has defended
some of New England's most notorious mobsters, including the late Providence godfather
Raymond L.S. Patriarca. David Cicilline has cultivated a reputation for cleaning up City Hall
following decades of corruption presided over by Cianci, who's currently serving time in a
federal prison. The mayor was sworn in for a second term Wednesday. In a news conference
in his office, David Cicilline said he was not aware his brother was being investigated. The
mayor, his voice quavering, said he spoke with his brother Friday morning to tell him he loved
him and would be there to support him and his three daughters. The mayor said he did not
think his brother's conduct was a reflection on him or the city of Providence, which has been
plagued by corruption for decades. "My record is clear. I've worked really hard with a team of
people to restore honesty and integrity to this city," he said, adding, "I'm not concerned about
the impact it's having on me." ------ Associated Press writers Michelle R. Smith in Providence
and Mark Jewell in Boston contributed to this report.
© Copyright <http://www.boston.com/help/bostoncom_info/copyright> 2006 The New York
Times Company
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