Two corruption suspects have state jobs

NORTH PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Two of the three North Providence town councilors charged in a federal corruption crackdown also have jobs with the State of Rhode Island.

Council President Joseph Burchfield is paid $52,000 annually as the constituent liaison for the state Senate.

Council member John Zambarano is an eight-year employee of the Rhode Island Department of Corrections, where he supervises inmates on work details.

A Corrections Department spokesperson says any employee facing criminal charges is required to notify the department within 24 hours. 

"We haven't heard from him at this point," Corrections Department spokesperson Tracey Zeckhausen told Eyewitness News Thursday afternoon.

Under Corrections Department policy, Zambarano would face administrative leave with pay, while contesting felony charges.

In addition to being town council president and a Senate liason, Joseph Burchfield is also known as a ring announcer for local boxing events promoted by his father, Jimmy Burchfield.

In 2004, Joseph Burchfield ran for the Rhode Island Senate seat then-held by now-convicted felon, John Celona.  During an interview, he told Eyewitness News, "I'm going to restore the faith of the people in the Senate."

(Early Thursday, we reported Burchfield was a partner at the law office "D'Amico Burchfield Legal Solutions." We've since learned that is not true. Eyewitness News regrets the error.)

Burchfield, Zambarano, and fellow town councilor Raymond Douglas III were all arrested by the FBI on Thursday.

They are charged with extortion, and accepting a $25,000 bribe.

Investigators say the suspects were paid off by a developer to vote in favor of a zoning change for a supermarket construction project.

None of the defendants entered a plea during an initial appearance in Providence Federal Court Thursday.  They were released on $50,000 unsecured bond.

Each defendant faces up to 30 years in prison, if convicted on both counts.