Thursday in Rhode Island
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What does an average Thursday look like in Rhode Island? Something like this:
Federal investigators are digging for the remains of a Boston businessman who prosecutors have said was murdered in a gangland slaying 23 years ago, the Target 12 Investigators have learned.
Steven DiSarro, then 43, of Westwood, Mass., was murdered in 1993 but his body has never been recovered.
Multiple sources tell Target 12 that agents from the FBI are digging for DiSarro’s remains behind an old factory off Branch Avenue in Providence.
Target 12 has learned investigators discovered something from the dig site Wednesday afternoon, which forensic experts are now going to examine for a possible link to the case. It’s unclear if the Office of the Medical Examiner removed the object or not.
The FBI is expected back on site on Thursday.
Earlier on Wednesday, a spokesperson for the Rhode Island Medical Examiner’s office confirmed they had been contacted by the FBI to inform them of the dig. One of the medical examiner’s trucks arrived on scene at about 6:15 p.m.
No one has ever been charged for DiSarro’s murder, though former New England mob boss Francis “Cadillac Frank” Salemme was indicted by the U.S. Attorney’ Office in Boston on two counts of obstruction of justice in 2004 for making false statements about what he knew about the murder.
Providence: Massachusetts’ dumping ground since 1636.
Well, I wonder what’s going on with my city councilman:
A Providence city councilman has been arraigned on charges he misused campaign funds and embezzled more than $127,000 from a youth organization he founded.
Kevin Jackson was released on personal recognizance at his arraignment Wednesday.
The 57-year-old Jackson is charged with felony embezzlement, unlawful appropriation over $1,000 and related crimes.
Investigators say Jackson misappropriated $12,074 in campaign contributions for his personal use and has embezzled $127,153 from the Providence Cobras, a youth track and field organization, since 2009.
The embezzlement and unlawful appropriation charges each carry a prison sentence of up to 20 years.
Oh.
Well.
Surely I can look to the state legislature for moral behavior, right?
Another major player at the Rhode Island State House has fallen from power, amid reports of a state and federal investigation into his activities: House Finance Chairman Raymond E. Gallison Jr.
House Democrats are being apprised in a closed-door caucus on Tuesday that Gallison, 64, of Bristol is resigning from the House, effective immediately and that Rep. Marvin Abney, D-Newport, has been asked to take his place at the helm of the budget-writing committee in these critical weeks leading up to the release of a proposed new $9 billion state budget.
Mattiello reportedly learned of Gallison’s “personal” troubles for the first time, when the House Finance Committee chairman cancelled a fundraiser he had been scheduled to have at the Metacomet Country Club on May 9.
Mattiello reportedly learned of Gallison’s “personal” troubles for the first time, when the House Finance Committee chairman cancelled a fundraiser he had been scheduled to have at the Metacomet Country Club on May 9.
No official explanation has been given for Gallison’s stunning fall.
The investigation is linked to “prostitution” allegations, sources have told The Journal.
Evidently, he was running a prostitution ring.
Incidentally, Speaker Nicholas Mattiello is a horrible human being on a truly epic level. I mean a purely awful figure. Some friends were in town for a conference in April. We went to a bar. Naturally, because this always happens in Rhode Island, the entire ring of grotesque Rhode Island state politicians were there holding a fundraiser. My friend said “They look like the cast of Goodfellas.” I said, “Yes, but there’s far less crime in Goodfellas.”
But I guess not running a prostitution ring. So he’s one of my state’s more admirable figures.