It appears that at least in this case, influence-buying doesn't pay. A jury has convicted the former CEO and president of 151-bed Roger Williams Medical Center of conspiracy and mail fraud, finding that he bribed former Rhode Island state senator John Celona to work on the hospital's behalf in the state legislature. Urciuoli, who had two co-defendants, could be sentenced to a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the conspiracy count and for each of 17 mail-fraud counts, according to Modern Healthcare. Celona, who pleaded guilty, has been assisting federal prosecutors. The Providence-based hospital was also indicted, but like Celona, agreed to cooperate in exchange for help from the prosecution.
Learn more about the case:
- read this piece in Modern Healthcare