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Prosecutors propose 12-year sentence for DiMasi
Federal prosecutors have proposed that former Massachusetts House speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi serve 12 years and seven months in federal prison for his conviction on corruption charges.The sentence would be the most severe ever handed down in a federal political corruption case in Massachusetts, according to court records. The prosecutors asked US District Judge Mark Wolf to consider DiMasi's standing as speaker of the House of Representatives when he carried out the crimes, as well as his insistence on his innocence after the jury rendered its verdict. Wolf is slated to sentence DiMasi on Sept. 8. "DiMasi's sentence should reflect the seriousness of his offense, promote respect for the law, provide just punishment, and afford adequate deterrence," prosecutors said in a 19-page sentencing proposal filed in US District Court in Boston. "Any public official who engages in a bribery/kickback scheme severely undermines the trust that citizens place in their elected officials to act honestly and without self-interest. He undermines the work of the majority of the other non-corrupt public officials who put forth an honest effort and act in the interest of the public." Posted by: Fred 2011-08-26 |
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