Johnston judge pleads not guilty to charges related to theft of dead Cranston man’s estate

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Priscilla Facha DiMaio, a probate judge in Johnston, was in Providence Superior Court Wednesday to be arraigned on charges, which included attempted larceny and providing false documents.

DiMaio, 65, pleaded not guilty to all charges.

She was accused of playing a role in the theft of valuable items from the estate of James Barbieri after he died on April 26, 2021. Those items include sports cards and guns.

According to Attorney General Peter Nerohna, the value of the items exceeds $1 million.

DiMaio was accused of lying on court documents and falsifying claims that she worked for Barbieri’s estate.

After her appearance in court, ABC 6 News asked the judge and her attorney for comment, who declined to speak.

In addition to DiMaio, the attorney general’s office claimed people close to Barbieri started to remove items from his home in the days before his death and later sold the valuable sports cards and gun collection.

DiMaio was released on bail and is due back in court on October 26.