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. |
CVS listed Celona's pay as political contribution
5.16.08
Federal prosecutors produced CVS records documenting that former state Sen. John Celona's $1,000-a-month consulting payments from the nation's biggest drugstore chain -- payments that were made from CVS' "Political Contributions" account and approved by CVS' head of government affairs.
Exhibits from court Thursday:
Ex-House leader Martineau sentenced to 37 mos.
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
PROVIDENCE -- Former state Senate President William Irons has sued 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.
Celona gets 2½ years in corruption case
PROVIDENCE -- Former state Sen. John A. Celona was sentenced to 30 months in prison this morning, Jan. 31, 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
PROVIDENCE -- Former state Sen. John A. Celona today pleaded no contest to two state criminal charges and was sentenced to seven years at the ACI, four years to serve. He was allowed to serve his state time concurrently with a 30-month federal sentence. Celona admitted that as chairman of the Senate Corporations Committee he was paid by three companies to take legislative action favorable to them.
Read Judge Procaccini's statement, see Celona's written plea
Your Turn: React to Celona's second sentence
Court overturns convictions of hospital executives
PROVIDENCE -- A federal appeals court has overturned the convictions of Roger Williams Medical Center executives Robert A. Urciuoli and Frances P. Driscoll, who had been charged with paying a state senator to push the hospital's agenda in the legislature.
Latest Stories
CVS listed Celona's pay as political contribution
Testimony turns to tickets for Oprah
Lobbyist says Celona sought CVS meeting
From The Journal archives: 11.22.04: Drugstore industry paid conference tab for R.I. legislators
Exhibit 26: 1998 letter from Joseph Walsh to CVS about his retention as a lobbyist
Exhibit 51: Gayle Wolf memo to Walsh on CVS legislation in 2001
Exhibit 355: Ortiz e-mail about legislation in 2003
CVS corruption trial begins today
Extra: Correspondence between Celona and Day 1 witness, Stop & Shop executive John Fegan, as part of his testimony for the defense on the debate over pharmacy choice legislation: Exhibit U | Exhibit X | Exhibit Y | Exhibit Z
Jury selection starts in case of ex-CVS executives charged with bribery
PDF: Read the questionnaire for potential jurors
Ex-House leader leaves for New Jersey prison
Ex-House leader Martineau sentenced to 37 mos.
Martineau asks judge for leniency
Roger Williams Hospital officials to be retried
Court overturns convictions of hospital executives
Corruption convictions appealed
PDF: Read the full agreement between Blue Cross and the U.S. Attorney's office
Blue Cross fires 4 executives; deal possible
Former Roger Williams hospital execs fight to stay out of jail
Former RI House majority leader admits selling office to CVS, Blue Cross
Ex-legislator to plead guilty to fraud
Celona transferred to RI from Pa. prison
Prosecutors want hospital chiefs verdicts upheld
Ex-hospital officers appeal convictions
Urciuoli, Driscoll to remain free on appeal
Celona arrives early at federal prison
M. Charles Bakst: Celona's legacy -- Thoughts about a pol facing jail
Celona expected to plead to state corruption charges
Operation Dollar Bill: Two banks questioned in investigation
Operation Dollar Bill has politicians looking over their shoulders and witnesses lawyering up
Urciuoli sentenced to 3 years in prison
Driscoll sentenced to 8 months in prison
Extra: Read the indictment of CVS officials
A Look Back
1.19.07: Once hot topic, pharmacy choice faded quickly
1.19.07: Charges not seen harmful to CVS
1.18.07: Lobbyists list their political relationships
1.12.07: Hospital officials won't get a new trial
11.1.06: Hospital critic speaks out
1.1.04: Senate President Irons quits in flap over clients
12.27.03: Celona's CVS ties news to Lynch
The Paper Trail
10.13.06: Verdicts in the Roger Williams Medical Center case
8.22.06: R.I. Ethics Commission penalizes John A. Celona
1.27.06: Deferred prosecution agreement with Roger Williams Medical Center
1.5.06: The original indictment against Roger Williams Medical Center
