Operation Dollar Bill

A wide-ranging corruption case involving at least seven politicians and seven corporations, Operation Dollar Bill began late in 2003, following a Providence Journal story that questioned the ties between Blue Cross & Blue Shield and John A. Celona, a powerful state senator who oversaw health-care legislation.

Judge to instruct jury in execs' corruption trial

Former Roger Williams Hospital executives Robert Urciuoli and Francis P. Driscoll

9.30.08
PROVIDENCE -- The jury in the federal corruption trial of Robert A. Urciuoli and Frances P. Driscoll, two former executives at Roger Williams Medical Center, will receive final instructions this morning in U.S. District Court.

At the retrial

9.29.08: Corruption trial resumes, Driscoll to be in court

9.24.08: Corruption trial delayed until at least Monday

9.24.08: Execs' trial postponed after defendant falls, breaks arm

9.23.08: Execs' corruption trial called off for today

9.20.08: Celona's cable show at center of defense in corruption trial

9.19.08: Celona's role at heart of defense in hospital corruption trial

9.18.08: Ex-lawmaker’s testimony read at Celona trial

9.17.08: Roger Williams Medical Center lawyer takes the stand

9.16.08: Rep. Giannini: Celona did not control my votes

9.16.08: Board denies parole for former state Sen. Celona

9.15.08: Ex-CFO: Hospital agreed to pay Celona's salary

9.13.08: Celona depicted as eager to do hospital's work

9.12.08: Lawyer testifies about Celona

9.11.08: Trial testimony focuses on hospital’s hiring of Celona

9.10.08: Retrial of corruption case begins

9.08.08: Celona will sit out retrial of former hospital executives

Kramer and Ortiz cleared of all charges

Former CVS executives John R. "Jack" Kramer, left, and Carlos Ortiz

John R. "Jack" Kramer, left, and Carlos Ortiz had been on trial on 23 charges each for three weeks in federal court. The May 30 appeals court ruling illustrates the difficulty in proving corruption involving Rhode Island's "citizen" leguslature.

6.02.08: CVS trial: How earlier case affected latest verdict

6.01.08: Prosecutors’ dilemma: What will Celona say?

Your Turn: Do you agree with the "not guilty" verdict in CVS case?

Extra: The 23-count indictment against Kramer and Ortiz

Ex-House leader Martineau sentenced to 37 mos.

2.22.08

PROVIDENCE -- Former House Majority Leader Gerard M. Martineau is sentenced to 37 months in prison on corruption charges. Martineau, who pleaded guilty to charges in November, is cooperating with the federal investigation into corruption at the State House, Operation Dollar Bill.

11.3.07: Former R.I. House majority leader admits selling office to CVS, Blue Cross

Read the charges against Martineau

Read Martineau's plea agreement

Your Turn: React to Martineau's pleading guilty to corruption charges

Irons sues ethics panel to halt its prosecution

12.19.07

PROVIDENCE -- Former state Senate President William Irons sues the state Ethics Commission in an attempt to prevent it from prosecuting him on two charges that he violated the state's ethics laws while in office.

6.4.08: Ethics panel rethinks so-called loophole

Celona gets 2½ years in corruption case

01.31.07

PROVIDENCE -- Former state Sen. John A. Celona is sentenced to 30 months in prison for selling his office for personal gain. In an emotional six-minute speech in federal court, Celona expressed his remorse, noting, "I was living in a superficial world in the State House." He was ordered into federal custody March 2.

State sentence adds 1½ years in prison for Celona

2.20.07

PROVIDENCE -- Former state Sen. John A. Celona today pleads no contest to two state criminal charges and is sentenced to seven years at the ACI, with four years to serve. He is allowed to serve his state time concurrently with a 30-month federal sentence. Celona admits that as chairman of the Senate Corporations Committee he was paid by three companies to take legislative action favorable to them.

Full story . . .

Read Judge Procaccini's statement, see Celona's written plea

Your Turn: React to Celona's second sentence