Aponte Reaches Plea Deal with Attorney General, Resigns City Council Seat UPDATED
Tuesday, July 30, 2019
Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced that Providence Luis Aponte has pleaded nolo contendere on Monday to a felony count of embezzlement.
Superior Court Justice Jeffrey A. Lanphear sentenced Aponte to a 4.5-year suspended sentence with 4.5 years of probation.
As part of his plea, Aponte is required to resign from his position on the Providence City Council.
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Aponte spent $13,942.29 from his campaign account, “Friends of Luis Aponte,” to pay for personal expenses, according to the Attorney General's office.
During that time, Aponte paid for items including subscriptions to Netflix and Xbox Live, iTunes, cable bills, and gas.
Former Aponte ally now-Council President Sabina Matos said in a statement, "I have learned that Councilman Luis A. Aponte has entered into a plea agreement and will resign as a member of the Providence City Council, a post he held for more than two decades."
"As public servants, we are held to a higher standard and Councilman Aponte's resignation is a necessary and important step forward as we continue to focus on creating greater opportunities and improving quality of life for Providence's residents and taxpayers," Matos added.
Latest for Aponte
The case was initially referred to the Office of the Attorney General in September 2016 by the Rhode Island Board of Elections, after the Board’s review of Aponte’s campaign expenditures indicated the use of campaign funds unrelated to campaign expenses.
As GoLocal reported when Aponte was indicted on May 11, 2017:
Aponte has been facing review both by the RI Board of Election and the Attorney General's office for campaign finance issues.
On Wednesday, Aponte plead not guilty in Superior Court to two felony charges (unlawful appropriation of campaign funds and embezzlement), and two misdemeanor counts of taking campaign funds for personal use.
He was released on $1,000 personal recognizance and faces a pre-trial hearing in June.
The following week, city councilors called for a special meeting to change the rules to remove Aponte.
“At any time during the term of the duly elected Providence City Council, the Providence City Council by two-thirds of all the members of the City Council may vote to permanently remove the individual who is currently serving as President of the City Council.”
This new rule proposal comes after Aponte refused to step down following his indictment on two felony charges (unlawful appropriation of campaign funds and embezzlement), and two misdemeanor counts of taking campaign funds for personal use, pleaded not guilty in Superior Court and was released on $1,000 personal recognizance.
Aponte stepped down as City Council President on May 19, 2017 - but continued to serve on the council.
