Today, This Is the Most Infamous Street in Rhode Island

Today, This Is the Most Infamous Street in Rhode Island

Maybe in the 1960s, Atwells Avenue was the most infamous street in Rhode Island — it was the home to the headquarters of the New England crime family. Between Raymond Patriarca’s Coin-O-Matic and the sites of numerous mob hits, it made a lot of news.

In the late 19th Century and maybe again today, Bellevue Avenue is a road of millionaires and billionaires, but most of the folks are just summertime visitors.

The real action is on a small “lane” in East Greenwich.

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Living on the street has been a trio of high-profile players living the good life in mega McMansions. There are only 15 homes on the street.

It is named in memory of the Reverend Patrick J. Lenihan. He was appointed as the founding pastor of the first Catholic church in East Greenwich (Church of the Holy Name), now known as Our Lady of Mercy. 

 

Monique Brady, 15 Lenihan Lane

In July 2019, Monique Brady of 15 Lenihan Lane, whose business claimed to specialize in preserving the 'current condition of foreclosed homes for resale,' pled guilty to a $10 million fraud scheme.

Brady admitted that among those defrauded were friends in the East Greenwich community, a close friend from childhood, a friend from law school, her stepbrother, and an older woman who was essentially a nanny to her children.

Other victims included three Warwick firefighters and an elderly man with Alzheimer’s disease.

She represented to investors that payments ranging from approximately $20,000 to $80,000 were needed to pay subcontractors to perform the work.

Records indicate that of the 171 properties for which Brady solicited and received funds from investors for rehabilitation projects, 98 were for properties her company was never hired to preserve, on which absolutely no work was performed.

In February of 2020, Brady was sentenced to 8 years in Federal prison. Also, she was ordered to pay her victims $4.78 million.

 She was 45 years old at the time of her sentencing. 

According to the government, the Ponzi scheme was used to help finance an extravagant lifestyle, including a $1 million home, numerous expensive trips abroad, multiple trips to the Super Bowl, and luxury items such as her collection of Louis Vuitton shoes.

 

Ed Cooley, 55 Lenihan Lane

In 2023, the Providence College men’s basketball team was having a strong season, and then the Friars' season went off the rails.

The team tanked, and Ed Cooley announced he was leaving his hometown Friars

On March 19, Cooley and his wife placed their East Greenwich home on the market for just under $2 million.

But there was a twist to the timeline. The disclosure form on the home was signed by Cooley nearly three weeks earlier, on March 3.

March 17, PC loses to Kentucky in their opening round game of the NCAA tournament

March 18, Leading Georgetown basketball sports blog declares Cooley will be the Hoyas' next Coach

March 19, Cooley confirms he is negotiating with Georgetown

March 19, Cooleys "officially" list their home for sale — asking price just under $2M

March 20, GoLocal uncovers the date of the March disclosure form

Cooley has faced a backlash for leaving for a Big East rival from some Friar fans. He finished his career at Friartown with the second-most wins in PC history and took the Friars to seven NCAA tournaments.

 

Andrew Loffredo, 5 Lenihan Lane

As of today, Andrew Loffredo is the homeowner. He is the accused fraudster who is now facing an ever-growing number of legal challenges.

Two weeks ago, more than a dozen businesses associated with Loffredo were placed into a receivership by Rhode Island Superior Court Judge Brian Stern. This past week, Loffredo was charged by East Greenwich Police with filing a false police report when he alleged two men tried to kill him, and that triggered a bail violation, as he was already facing charges for cyberstalking. 

And this past week, Anthony and Janet Giarusso, the first mortgage holders on 5 Lenihan, began the foreclosure process. SEE GOLOCAL'S COVERAGE BELOW

 

What would Father Lenihan think about his namesake lane today?