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September 8, 2006

FLASH: Appeals court upholds Bucci, Potter convictions

A federal appeals court has upheld the convictions last year of two former Lincoln Park executives for conspiring to bribe former House Speaker John B. Harwood.

The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston today rejected arguments that there was insufficient evidence to convict Nigel Potter, former CEO of Lincoln Park's British parent company, Wembley plc, and Daniel Bucci, the park's former general manager.

"The trial was well conducted and the outcome is not a surprise," the three-judge panel concluded in its decision.

The decision also upholds a conviction against LPRI, the limited liability company remaining from Lincoln Park's former owners.

A federal jury last year convicted the three defendants of conspiracy and wire-fraud charges for scheming to bribe Harwood. Prosecutors said the proposed bribes, which were never paid, were aimed at securing state approval for at least 1,000 more video-slot machines and blocking a casino proposed for West Warwick.

Potter was sentenced to three years in prison. Bucci was sentenced to three years and five months in prison. The corporate entity was fined $1.5 million.

Defense lawyers last month argued to that appeals court that while former Lincoln Park executives Daniel Bucci and Nigel Potter had discussions, they never crossed the line by starting to execute a plan to bribe Harwood

In appealing, the defendants sought acquittal or a new trial.

Posted by Jack Perry  at 3:01 PM | Permalink

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