Attorney Asks RI State Police to Investigate Providence City Council Candidate
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
Attorney Carol Ricker sent a letter on September 20, 2019, asking the Rhode Island State to investigate Ward 10 candidate Pedro Espinal for the non-payment of $85,000.
Ricker claims that Espinal knowingly issued a fraudulent check to her client — Fernando Tavares.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTEspinal, reached by phone on Monday morning told GoLocal, "I have no problem speaking with you about this, but it's pending litigation, so as such you'll have to contact my attorney, John Harwood."
Harwood did not return to a request for comment at the time of publication.
The alleged check from Espinal to Tavares was related to "1007 Investments, LLC." That company was established by Espinal this summer, according to the records of the RI Secretary of State's office.
The address for 1007 Investments, LLC. is also Espinal's home address.
In the letter Ricker, a Warwick-based litigator writes:
Dear Lieutenant Schram:
This office represents Fernando Tavares regarding tho above referenced matter. Specifically, on or about July 16, 2019, one Pedro Espinal did knowingly issue to Mr. Tavares a fraudulent check in the amount of Eighty-Five Thousand and 00/100 {$85,000.00).
Upon deposit the check was returned for insufficient funds. Request is made that your office open an investigation regarding the violation of R.IG.L. 19-9-25- Please advise as to next steps.
Espinal is running in the primary for the special election --the seat was vacated by former Providence City Council member Luis Aponte. He pled guilty to a number of state violations. He was prosecuted by Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha's office
State Statute
According to the Rhode Island General Law, Ҥ 19-9-25 Fraudulent checks РLarge amounts. Р(a) Any person who purchases any goods, materials, or services, pays for that purchase by check, draft, or order for payment of money, and takes possession of the item, and who subsequently orders payment stopped on the check, draft, or order for payment, or who, with intent to defraud, makes, draws, utters, or delivers any check, draft, or order for the payment of money, in an amount exceeding one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500), upon any regulated institution or other depository, knowing at the time of making, drawing, uttering, or delivering that the maker or drawer has not sufficient funds in, or credit with, that regulated institution or other depository for the payment of the check, draft, or order, in full, upon its presentation, shall, upon conviction, be fined not more than two thousand dollars ($2,000) or be imprisoned not more than two (2) years, or may be subjected to both fine and imprisonment.
