National Roundup

Rhode Island U.S. ordered to say if RI inmate faces death penalty PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- A judge has ordered the U.S. Department of Justice to indicate whether it will seek the death penalty for a Rhode Island inmate in a legal tug-of-war between the governor and federal prosecutors. U.S. District Judge William Smith issued the order Wednesday regarding Jason Pleau (plew). The Justice Department must say by Tuesday whether it plans to seek the death penalty. Pleau is accused of fatally shooting a man outside a Woonsocket bank in 2010. Gov. Lincoln Chafee had refused to surrender Pleau to federal authorities, saying they want to try him to make the death penalty a possible punishment. Rhode Island doesn't have capital punishment. An appeals court ruled he may stand trial in federal court. U.S. Attorney Peter Neronha (nuh-ROH'-nuh) says prosecutors will comply with the order. Connecticut Thief steals U.S. flag from man in chicken suit MANCHESTER, Conn. (AP) -- Manchester, Conn., police are investigating the theft of an American flag from a man in a chicken suit. The Hartford Courant reports that Eric Didio was waving the flag and dancing outside a newly renovated Boston Market restaurant Wednesday as part of his job, when a man jumped from a car, grabbed the flag and took off. A customer who witnessed the theft called police. The newspaper reports that the dispatcher had a hard time relaying the call to officers, breaking into laughter while trying to say "chicken suit." Nathan Atwood, the restaurant's general manager, says he stood beside the 23-year-old Didio for the rest of his shift to provide security. No arrests have been made. Connecticut Sleepwalking used as defense in attempted robbery NEW LONDON, Conn. (AP) -- A Connecticut man accused of attempting to rob a woman at knifepoint in an elevator at the Mohegan Sun casino says he was sleepwalking at the time. Attorney Nicholas D'Amato told a judge Wednesday that he plans to use a medical defense for Winston Riley based on that claim, the Norwich Bulletin reported in Thursday's editions. The Bridgeport man was arrested on March 18 after the woman told police he had flashed a large knife and tried to grab her purse while the two were alone in a parking garage elevator, police said. Riley said he was awakened by the woman when she ran away in confusion and fright, D'Amato said. The lawyer said he's confirmed with Riley's family that the 27-year-old has had a problem with sleepwalking since he was a child. The lawyer said he's in the early stages of gathering medical records in his attempt to convince prosecutors they should take the claim seriously. "It is the first time we've encountered this," D'Amato said. "This is a legitimate medical condition." Riley's bond was lowered Wednesday to $85,000 from $100,000. He is due back in court July 17. Police said Riley confessed to the crime after he was arrested and told them he "just wanted some money." D'Amato said the facts don't add up, since his client has no criminal record and is married. "I told the judge and prosecutor... 'Do you honestly think he woke up one morning, drove across the state and decided to rob a woman in a place full of security cameras?'" D'Amato told the newspaper. "It doesn't make sense if you think about it rationally." Rhode Island Mobster gets 3 years, 10 mos. in RI extortion case PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- A New England Mafia member was ordered on Thursday to serve three years and 10 months in federal prison for his role in the shakedown of Rhode Island strip clubs, becoming the second admitted mobster and fifth person overall to be sentenced in the case. Alfred "Chippy" Scivola Jr. was sentenced by a federal judge in Providence. The 71-year-old Scivola pleaded guilty in March to racketeering conspiracy. Scivola's role in the extortion of strip clubs for monthly protection payments by the mob goes back to 2002, according to prosecutors. They say the plot netted $800,000 to $1.5 million in ill-gotten gains. The extortion investigation has ensnared nine people described by prosecutors as having ties to organized crime. Five people have been sentenced to prison in the case, including three mob associates and former New England mob boss Luigi "Baby Shacks" Manocchio. Manocchio, 84, was ordered last month to serve 5 1/2 years in prison for his role in the plot. Reputed acting New England mob boss Anthony DiNunzio was arrested in connection to the scheme in April. DiNunzio, who lives in the East Boston section of Boston, has pleaded not guilty and is being held without bail. Edward "Eddy" Lato, 65, the captain of the mob's Rhode Island crew, has pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and faces sentencing next week. Monthly payments from strip clubs were set aside for the Mafia by Thomas Iafrate, 71, a former bookkeeper at the Cadillac Lounge and Satin Doll strip clubs, prosecutors said. Iafrate is serving a 2?-year prison sentence for racketeering conspiracy. Theodore Cardillo, 69, who prosecutors say was a manager at the Cadillac Lounge, has pleaded not guilty to charges and awaits trial. California Army vet accused of falsely claiming war wounds RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) -- A military veteran in Southern California is accused of falsely claiming he was wounded in Vietnam in order to get nearly $60,000 in benefits. The U.S. attorney's office says Army Command Sgt. Maj. William Roy was indicted Tuesday on charges of stealing government property, making false statements and submitting false documents to the government. Roy is an active-duty soldier. A call Thursday seeking comment from the 57-year-old Winchester man wasn't immediately returned. Authorities say he falsely claimed to have won two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star in Vietnam when he actually was stationed in Germany. He's also accused of requesting a Purple Heart in 2008 after falsely claiming injuries in Afghanistan. He faces up to 55 years in prison if convicted. Published: Fri, Jun 8, 2012