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« Suzanne Henseler, former House majority whip, dies at 63 | Today | Sunny today with a high near 73 » September 25, 2006Lawyer: Urciuoli sought ramifications of Celona's ambitionsJohn A. Celona wanted to be the lieutenant governor of Rhode Island, but Robert A. Urciuoli wondered if Celona could stay on the payroll, a lawyer for Roger Williams Medical Center testified today. Late in 2001, lawyer Kimberly O'Connell told federal jurors, Urciuoli asked her to revise Celona's consulting contract with the Village at Elmhurst, an assisted-living center affiliated with the hospital, to give him a raise. In the course of their conversation, Urciuoli asked about the potential ramifications of the North Providence senator's higher political aspirations. “There had been some discussion about (Celona) running for lieutenant governor, and Bob wanted to know, if he were elected, could the Village keep the same contract (with Celona),” O’Connell said. Urciuoli did not elaborate on what might happen should Celona become lieutenant governor, O’Connell testified today in the federal corruption trial of Urciuoli, former Roger Williams vice president Frances P. Driscoll and Peter J. Sangermano, a partner with the hospital in The Village at Elmhurst assisted-living center. Unlike the office of state senator, which is a part-time position, lieutenant governor is a full-time job. O'Connell testified that Urciuoli also asked whether it would be proper for Celona, as a senator who was also being paid by the hospital, to introduce legislation appropriating state funds for Roger Williams’ bone-marrow program. O'Connell, Roger Williams’s vice president and general counsel, said that she researched the matter and told Urciuoli that the contract would not apply if he became lieutenant governor and that Celona could not introduce an appropriation for the hospital. During her discussions with Urciuoli to revise Celona’s contract in 2001, and again in 2002, O’Connell said that Urciuoli didn’t tell her of Celona’s efforts at the State House on the hospital’s behalf. -- Journal staff writer Mike Stanton Celona, of course, did not run for lieutenant governor. Instead, his long political career imploded two years later over revelations regarding his personal financial dealings with the CVS drugstore chain, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, and Roger Williams. Celona resigned from the Senate, was indicted on federal corruption charges, pleaded guilty and has emerged as the government’s central witness in a trial charging Urciuoli, Driscoll and Sangermano with stealing his honest services. From 1998 to early 2004, Celona collected $260,000 from his consulting job at the Village at Elmhurst. The jury heard from seven witnesses today as the trial entered its third week. The witnesses testified about what Celona did and didn’t do for Roger Williams and its affiliates, and who did and didn’t know. -- Journal staff writer Mike Stanton Posted by Kate Bramson CommentsPost a commentPlease be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish. |
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ProJo 9 to 5 News Blog
Oct 2005 - March 2006