Tapes from the Cianci corruption trial
Updated 02.10.03
The following are complete versions of some of the 58 surveillance audio and video tapes played during the federal corruption trial of former Providence Mayor Vincent A. Cianci Jr. and his co-defendants last year.
The tapes have been selected by projo.com, representing some of the high points of the trial. They have not been edited for content or length. Warning: Some language may be offensive to some readers.
The tapes were obtained by projo.com from the First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston, where they were filed by the prosecution as part of the court's review of Cianci's appeal of his conviction on a federal corruption charge.
They were not made available to the press during the course of the trial; at that time, they had only been viewed by those able to attend the trial itself.
Tapes were numbered in chronological order of recording; the number does not represent the order in which they were presented at trial.
Where possible, tapes are accompanied by a related Providence Journal or projo.com news story from the trial itself.
Tape 001, audio, 3 minutes, 51 seconds, no date listed on tape
This tape records an early telephone conversation between Antonio R. Freitas, owner of JKL engineering, who made several undercover recordings on the behalf of the FBI and became the trial's star witness, and Joseph C. Pannone, former chairman of the Providence Board of Tax Assessment Review.
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Tape 003-12, audio, 7 minutes and 55 seconds, May 18, 1998
In this telephone conversation, Pannone takes on the role of teacher, explaining to businessman Freitas how to play the game -- with money. Freitas was seeking Pannone's advice on how to further his own interests with the city. At one point, Pannone says: "Understand, there's nothing for nothing. There's no free lunches."
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Tape 182, clip #3, audio, 10 minutes and 56 seconds, Aug. 25, 1999
This telephone conversation between Mayor Vincent A. Cianci Jr. and Steven Antonson, then a member of the Providence Building Board of Review, discussed the board's vote on a request for variances from the prestigious University Club. Cianci had been accused of extorting a free lifetime membership from the club by holding up the permits for its renovation. On the tape, secretly recorded by Antonson, Cianci repeatedly denied he ever called Antonson before the board's July 30, 1998, vote on the club's request. Cianci was later found not guilty of two related charges.
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Tape 93, video, 4 minutes and 36 seconds, Dec. 3, 1998
This tape shows co-defendant Frank E. Corrente accepting a $1,000 cash payment from undercover businessman Antonio Freitas, who placed the alleged bribe on the desk in the City Hall office of the former director of administration. "There's more coming," Freitas said as he walked out. "You know, it's not necessary," responded Corrente, then the top aide to Mayor Vincent A. Cianci Jr.
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Tape 113, video, 9 minutes and 44 seconds, no date on tape
This long-heralded surveillance tape also shows Cianci co-defendant Frank E. Corrente accepting a cash-filled envelope from businessman Antonio R. Freitas, who was working under cover for the FBI. The tape captures a meeting between the two in Corrente's City Hall office in which they discussed Freitas's interesting in leasing a building for School Department use.
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React: Talk about the tapes on projo.com's bulletin board.
Background: For a complete look back at the trial and its aftermath, go to:
http://projo.com/trial/
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