Urciouli Sentenced for Corruption

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - A former hospital executive was sentenced Friday to three years in prison for buying the influence of a former Rhode Island state senator.

Robert Urciuoli was also ordered to serve two years of supervised release with community service and pay a $30,000 fine. U.S. District Judge Mary Lisi denied Urciuoli's request to remain free on bond as he appeals his case and ordered him to report to prison in June.

"I'm incredibly disappointed," Urciuoli said on the courthouse steps afterward.

It was the second time the former president and chief executive of Roger Williams Medical Center was convicted of hiring ex-state Sen. John Celona to do the hospital's bidding in the Statehouse.

Urciuoli received the same three-year prison sentence in January 2007, but a federal appeals court threw out the convictions last year because of flawed jury instructions from the previous judge.

At his retrial, Urciuoli was found guilty last fall of one count of conspiracy and 35 counts of mail fraud. A second former Roger Williams executive, Frances Driscoll, was acquitted at her retrial.

Before Lisi ruled on Friday, defense attorneys had argued that Urciuoli should get a lighter sentence than Celona because it was Celona, a public official, who was most to blame for defrauding the public that elected him.

But Celona pleaded guilty, cooperated with prosecutors and got 30 months in prison.

Urciuoli also argued that he's already been punished with the loss of his reputation and personal wealth as a result of his corruption conviction.

"It's been a terrible experience. It's been a life-shattering experience," Urciuoli told Lisi before she ruled.

Prosecutors argued Urciuoli was just as much to blame as Celona and that his embarrassment or financial difficulties were not enough to deter others from trying to influence elected officials.

"There are no John Celonas without Robert Urciuolis," said prosecutor Luis Matos.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
APTV-04-10-09 1332EDT