2008 Woodie Awards
Former R.I. state senator gets additional prison time
Celona charged with extra one and a half years behind bars
Issue date: 2/21/07 Section: News
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John Celona entered his plea to one felony count of accepting money under false pretenses and a misdemeanor ethics charge related to his work for a hospital.
He was sentenced to serve four years, plus a suspended sentence and probation.
Celona had already pleaded guilty to related charges in federal court and was sentenced last month to two and a half years in prison for selling the influence of his office to Roger Williams Medical Center, drugstore chain CVS Corp. and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island.
Superior Court Judge Daniel Procaccini said the state sentence could be served at the same time as the federal term.
Attorney General Patrick Lynch said any remaining time would be served in state prison, although it's possible Celona could be paroled around the time he is released from federal custody.
Celona has assisted federal investigators in a widespread probe of Statehouse corruption and was the key witness last year in a trial that resulted in the convictions of two former Roger Williams executives.
His assistance also led to the federal indictment last month of two ex-vice presidents of Woonsocket-based CVS, who have both pleaded not guilty to charges of fraud, conspiracy and bribery.
Federal prosecutors say they also are investigating seven politicians and seven corporations as a result of Celona's help in a probe they have described as bigger than the investigation into corruption at Providence City Hall that brought down former Mayor Vincent "Buddy" Cianci.
Celona walked out of court without commenting.
His federal sentence begins March 2. Celona was elected to the state Senate in 1995 and resigned in 2004 amid questions about his business dealings with CVS.
Last year, the state ethics commission fined him $130,000 for ethics violations.
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