Mayor's brother files for early release

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - The imprisoned brother of Providence Mayor David Cicilline has filed court paperwork in an effort to gain early release.

John M. Cicilline, 52, was sentenced last year to serve 18 months at Fort Devens Federal Prison in Massachusetts for shaking down two drug dealing clients. Cicilline, at the time a well-known defense attorney, pleaded guilty to the charges and reported to prison Oct. 21, 2008.

In court documents obtained by the Target 12 Investigators Tuesday, Cicilline's father, famed Providence attorney John F. Cicilline, asked a judge to release his son because of "unusual family and residential needs."

"...the petitioner has an employment opportunity which will only be available to him until the end of September which would permit him to father his children in a safe and stable environment, and save the home," the document states.

The filing also reveals Cicilline was denied his high blood pressure medication, forcing him to be moved to the high-security prison hospital, where he has been for the past eight months.

Cicilline was disbarred following his conviction. He was indicted along with his former law partner Joseph Bevilacqua, Jr., after federal investigators say the pair attempted to set-up drug deals so clients could receive a lighter sentence. Cicilline and Bevilacqua were accused of attempting to extort several hundred thousand dollars in exchange for the information about the drug-deals that the clients could then share with federal prosecutors in exchange for leniency.

The petition for early release states Cicilline was given approval by the warden at Fort Devens to enter a residential re-entry center, or halfway house. However, Cicilline's early release was quashed by higher ups. The document says Cicilline appealed the decision and is waiting for officials in Washington to rule.

According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Cicilline is slated to be released in February of 2010.