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« Providence police to patrol on electric scooters / Photo | Today | Entwistle fails to block his trial in wife, daughter's deaths » May 30, 2008Update: CVS Trial: Kramer, Ortiz cleared of all charges
PROVIDENCE -- Former CVS executives John R. "Jack" Kramer and Carlos Ortiz have been cleared of charges that they tried bribing former state Sen. John Celona to win favor in the State House for the Woonsocket-based drugstore chain. The jury of eight men and four women reached their verdict in less than two hours, clearing them of all 23 charges lodged against each defendant. Jurors got the case at 10:35 this morning after receiving instructs from Chief U.S. District Judge Mary M. Lisi. Some in the courtroom sighed with relief as the not-guilty verdicts in the high-profile case were quickly read around 12:15 p.m. After the verdict, trial participants, reporters, family and friends gathered outside the federal courthouse. Descending the steps into a pleasant, blue-sky afternoon, Kramer, 75, wearing a dark suit, clapped his hands once or twice, then waved his arms, motioning a dozen or so waiting reporters forward. Kramer said he could not believe what he had been through. "This has been an unfair, unjust prosecution," he said. Kramer said that as he waited for the verdict to be read, “I was just so nervous, just so nervous.” He added that “frankly, it was my faith that carried me through this.” Kramer said he had put his life on hold for 3 ½ to 4 years, and now, “You’re like, ‘Now what?’” 
Journal photo / Bill Murphy
Ortiz, 64, also clad in a dark suit, left the courthouse to the applause of family members and friends. But his wife, Jan, said, "I'm not real happy with the government for putting together this sham of a case." Ortiz himself declined to characterize the government's case after his wife spoke. Both men thanked their lawyers. Asked if he was disappointed by the verdict, U.S. Attorney Robert Clark Corrente said, "Well, that's the way the system works, so we'll go on from here." Asked what went wrong, he said: “I’m not sure anything went wrong.” Your Turn: Do you agree with the "not guilty" verdict in CVS case? -- projo.com staff writers Jack Perry and Michael P. McKinney, with archival reports The government's star witness was Celona, who is serving a 2 1/2-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to charges that he sold his office to CVS, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, and Roger Williams Medical Center. Reporters' questions after the verdict centered in part on Celona's effectiveness as a witness. Scott Corrigan, one of Kramer's lawyers, reflecting on the swifly delivered verdict, said of Celona in the trial: "You can see for yourself what kind of a witness he was.” Celona spent four days on the witness stand, but for three of those days, he was under cross-examination, and defense attorneys pointed out inconsistencies in his testimony. Celona testified how he came to be hired as a consultant by CVS, how he did the company’s legislative bidding while neglecting the other duties spelled out in his consulting agreement, and how he concealed the arrangement because he didn’t want the public to think he had switched sides on pharmacy-choice legislation because CVS was paying him. CVS was opposed to the pharmacy-choice legislation. But on cross-examination Celona was confronted with evidence that he had cheated on his taxes, failed to correct tax problems as promised in his plea agreement with prosecutors and lied to the authorities more times than he could remember. The defense rested without calling any witnesses. Neither Kramer, nor Ortiz took the stand to explain why CVS hired Celona, a state senator from North Providence, as a $1,000-a-month consultant from 2000 to 2003. In closing arguments over five hours yesterday, the prosecution argued that Celona abused his political office for CVS’ gain, at the behest of Kramer and Ortiz. The defense countered that Celona was hired for legitimate purposes, promoting CVS charities on his cable-access television show –– work that was permissible under Rhode Island law defining the state’s “citizen legislator” form of government. After the verdict, CVS issued a statement this afternoon, saying the company "believes that the judicial process has produced a fair and just outcome. "Today’s verdict is consistent with the company’s long-held view that Mr. Kramer and Mr. Ortiz had not engaged in criminal conduct. We are pleased for these two men and their families that this long and painful ordeal has ended," the statement said. U.S. Attorney Corrente said his office would continue with its investigation into corruption at the State House, "Operation Dollar Bill." "If anyone thinks were going away, we're not," Corrente said. Posted by Brandie Jefferson CommentsConcerned Person | May 30, 2008 12:40 PM link I think that, when you're prime witness is discredited as a L I A R, you are in trouble... Pat | May 30, 2008 12:41 PM link Celona is no longer credible. joe public | May 30, 2008 12:59 PM link I'm so glad I've know Jack Kramer and his family all my life neighbors in Cape May -NJ. Congratulations and God Bless
Pamela Blombaum | May 30, 2008 1:05 PM link Perhaps the prosectution did not have a solid enough case to prove guilt - but it is unlikey Kramer and Ortiz were stupid enough to email Celona and tell him to fix legislation, but come on people! AGAIN, the crooked walk free and CVS walks away free. If anyone believes CVS didn't try to bribe and sway RI government to suit its corporate wishes...I got some pharmacy choice legislation to sell you. Guilty as charged in my eyes. Hopefully at least this will stop some of the corruption up at the Politbureau. Kermit | May 30, 2008 1:12 PM link When was Celona credible? HE is a lying RAT, he was in the Roger Williams Case and he still is. Patrick | May 30, 2008 1:13 PM link Kermit's inane response sadly is so typical of Rhode Islanders who see conspiracies and corruption everywhere except when it comes to themselves. The government's case here was so weak from the beginning, even without Celona's discredited testimony, to question their judgement in pursing a trial. There is a difference between bribery and lobbying and if this distinction is difficult to manage then the 60,000 lobbyists who operate along K Street in Washington as well as state lobbyists across the country would all be in trouble on a regular basis. They are not and Kermit should be more knowledgeable of this distinction without making blanket statements that only show him to be a person not given to fairness. Richard | May 30, 2008 1:35 PM link Kermit's inane response sadly is so typical of Rhode Islanders who see conspiracies and corruption everywhere except when it comes to themselves. The government's case here was so weak from the beginning, even without Celona's discredited testimony, to question their judgement in pursing a trial. There is a difference between bribery and lobbying and if this distinction is difficult to manage then the 60,000 lobbyists who operate along K Street in Washington as well as state lobbyists across the country would all be in trouble on a regular basis. They are not and Kermit should be more knowledgeable of this distinction without making blanket statements that only show him to be a person not given to fairness. Richard | May 30, 2008 1:37 PM link Having witnessed 60+ years of 'politics' and the unspoken 'arrangements' benefiting the special interests sector, there is no doubt in my mind that the fine art of 'CYA' has been honed to perfection, as evidenced by today's decision. Buzzy | May 30, 2008 1:53 PM link This trial and the so-called "dollar bill" investigation is a waste of taxpayer money. tim | May 30, 2008 1:55 PM link Why is Celona in Jail? Bruce | May 30, 2008 2:26 PM link There is a difference between having been found "innocent" and having been found "not guilty". These guys were found "not guilty" because of the ineptness of the prosecution. And in Rhode Island,life goes on. The taxpayers foot the bill for this sham of a trial. Henry | May 30, 2008 2:51 PM link Why did this ever go to trial? Corrente's boss should look into this waste of taxpayer dollars. Frank Martin | May 30, 2008 2:57 PM link Hopefully this will put an end to "operation dollar bill". It sounds to me that this US Attorney has been gearing up to run for political office himself, perhaps Governor? Perhaps he is following the same path as Lincoln Alomond? Mathew | May 30, 2008 3:23 PM link does anyone know where or how to find a list of jurors from this trial? Ron Surigile | June 2, 2008 7:23 AM link Post 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
There are always 2 reasons a jury can reach a not guilty verdict. One, the defendant is NOT GUILTY. The second is that the prosecution did not offer enough evidence for the jury to find the defendant guilty.
Any parallel to the OJ verdict?