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August 3, 2007

Cranston man gets 2 years in mob extortion plot

PROVIDENCE -- A Cranston man who was snared in a mob extortion scheme last year was sentenced to two years in federal prison today.

Chief U. S. District Court Judge Mary M. Lisi brushed off a defense argument that James G. Manning, 64, is elderly and infirm and should be sentenced to probation or electronic monitoring on home confinement. She said that Manning, who used a walker to enter the courtroom, was well enough to travel to Massachusetts and participate in the mob-sanctioned extortion plot last year.

``At your age, I’m wondering, `What are you thinking?’’’ Lisi said. ``I’m not convinced that Mr. Manning gets it today.’’

Manning was one of four men arrested for participating in the April 2006 shakedown of two men, a pizza parlor owner and bookmaker/drug dealer, in the Taunton, Mass., area. Under the direction of Anthony M. ``The Saint’’ St. Laurent, the two men were supposed to make an initial payment of $200,000 and later weekly payments of $2,000.

St. Laurent was sentenced to five years in prison last January.

Manning, who has had a gambling problem and has known St. Laurent for 35 years, was ordered to surrender to a yet to be named federal prison on Aug. 24. Until then, he will remain on home confinement.

-- Journal staff writer W. Zachary Malinowski

Posted by Jack Perry  at 12:12 PM | Permalink

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