Executives Sentenced In Lincoln Park Bribery Case

[Judi Lynn]

Executives Sentenced In Lincoln Park Bribery Case
Group To Serve Federal Prison Terms

POSTED: 12:05 pm EDT October 28, 2005

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Lincoln Park's one-time general manager and the former chief executive of the dog track's British parent company were sentenced to federal prison terms Friday for conspiring to bribe the speaker of the Rhode Island House.

Nigel Potter, chief executive of former track owner Wembley PLC, was sentenced to three years for his role in the scheme. Daniel Bucci, the dog track's former general manager, received a sentence of three years and five months.

"It was clear to me that Mr. Bucci was the instigator of these offenses," U.S. District Judge Mary Lisi said in explaining the longer sentence for Bucci.

Potter, Bucci, and the track itself were convicted in August of conspiring to bribe Speaker John Harwood and his law partner with up to $4 million in a bid to win legislative support for more video lottery terminals at the dog track.

Prosecutors said the executives were also hoping to block a rival casino proposed by the Narragansett Indian Tribe when they discussed the payoff to Harwood and his law partner, Dan McKinnon.
(snip/...)

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/5197569/detail.html