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August 2, 2006

Court hears appeals in Lincoln Park bribery case

BOSTON – Lawyers for Lincoln Park and two former executives brought their clients' bid to dismiss their convictions on bribery conspiracy charges before a federal appeals court today.

The defendants themselves, who were convicted a year ago, were not there. Nigel Potter and Daniel Bucci are serving terms in federal prison. The business entity once known as Lincoln Park exists only as a limited liability company, and the Lincoln Park gambling facility itself has been bought by another firm.

Their pleas were heard by a three-judge panel sitting at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, including one Rhode Islander, Judge Bruce M. Selya.

Defense lawyers argued that no evidence proved that an actual scheme had been hatched to bribe the law partner of former Rhode Island House Speaker John Harwood. They also contended that no scheme, whose aim was to have been to obtain more video lottery terminals at Lincoln Park, was ever executed.

At one point, Bucci's lawyer, Anthony M. Traini, said that it had been portrayed as if Harwood could do anything.

'"We're not talking about the president of the United States, we're talking about the Rhode Island Speaker of the House," Traini said.

Judge Selya joked back, "Well, some would say that's a more powerful figure," drawing laughs from the courtroom.

The judges made no decision on the appeal today and did not announce a time for doing so.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Edward Fitzpatrick

Posted by Andrea Panciera  at 1:11 PM | Permalink

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