Once, twice, three times a felon!

[Doublebass73]

With the recent conviction of Sal Dimasi, former Democrat Speaker of the House in Massachusetts that makes the 3rd consecutive Massachusetts Speaker to become a convicted felon. Mass has been ruled by the King Democrats for over 1/2 a century and is a prime example of what one party rule can do to a state.

http://www.heraldnews.com/features/x536826667/Former-House-Speaker-Sal-DiMasi-guilty-of-conspiracy-extortion-fraud

Former House Speaker Sal DiMasi guilty of conspiracy, extortion, fraud

 
BOSTON — After a six-week trial, a jury needed only hours before finding former House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi guilty on seven of nine counts in his public corruption case, including conspiracy, two counts of mail fraud, three counts of wire fraud and extortion.

   The verdict made DiMasi the third consecutive House speaker convicted of a felony. Jurors found DiMasi, a North End Democrat often described as the most powerful person in state government during his run as leader of the House, had deprived Massachusetts citizens of his honest services.


 Codefendant and lobbyist Richard McDonough was also found guilty on seven of eight counts, including conspiracy, two counts of mail fraud, and three counts of wire fraud.


 The jury acquitted former DiMasi accountant Richard Vitale on all counts. At the Moakley Courthouse, Vitale hugged McDonough’s wife and family and said, “This isn’t over.”


 DiMasi's wife Debbie broke down in tears after the verdict was read during the noon hour. DiMasi attorney Thomas Kiley embraced Mrs. DiMasi, telling her, “I’m sorry.”


 "This is perhaps the best tried criminal case I've ever conducted," Judge Mark Wolf said.


 The convictions stems from charges that DiMasi sold his office as part of a scheme to rig software contracts in exchange for kickbacks. The verdict casts a lurid pall over his tenure in the House, an era marked by the passage of a 2006 universal health care law and now increasingly remembered for a string of corruption scandals that have eroded public faith in state government.


 DiMasi, who was speaker from 2004 to 2009, faces a maximum sentence of five years on the conspiracy charge and 20 years for each of the six other counts on which he was convicted.


 The verdict was delivered after a six-week trial that featured testimony from Gov. Deval Patrick, his senior staff, former lawmakers and current and former State House staffers. Even an adviser to President Obama – David Simas, a former Patrick aide – was called to the stand.


 DiMasi is the third consecutive House speaker to face a felony conviction. His predecessor, Thomas Finneran, pled guilty in 2006 to obstruction of justice in connection with testimony he provided in redistricting litigation. Finneran’s predecessor Charles Flaherty pled guilty to tax evasion in 1996. Neither served time in prison.


 The conviction tops a list of lawmakers accused or convicted of crimes in recent years. Former Sen. Anthony Galluccio spent six months in jail last year for violating a probation agreement he made after pleading guilty to a hit-and-run accident in October 2009. Former Sen. Dianne Wilkerson is serving a three-and-a-half-year sentence after pleading guilty last year to accepting $23,500 in bribes.


 Earlier this year, former Sen. James Marzilli was sentenced to a three-month jail term after pleading guilty to accosting four women in downtown Lowell on the same day in 2008. Marzilli was also sentenced to five years of probation and must wear a GPS monitoring device for the first year. He must also perform 200 hours of community service and undergo mental health or sex offender treatment.


 The verdict arrived as many of DiMasi’s former colleagues settled in for a formal session in the House.
 

Read more: http://www.heraldnews.com/archive/x536826667/Former-House-Speaker-Sal-DiMasi-guilty-of-conspiracy-extortion-fraud#ixzz1Sc4hMjGh

[carbineman]

Wow, Seems like all the political critters need adult supervision.

[Doublebass73]

Mass is right up there with Chicago, New York and Rhode Island when it comes to corrupt politicians.

[Gary G]

Why does anyone want to be a politician?

1. Because they desire to run the lives of other people.
2. So they can live without producing anything. (That motivates corruption.)