Former state representative-elect sentenced for campaign finance charges

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) – A former representative-elect was sentenced Wednesday after pleading guilty to felony embezzlement and campaign finance charges.

In 2018, Laufton Ascencao, 27, diverted over $16K from the the checking account of the Rhode Island chapter of the Sierra Club, of which he was treasurer. According to the Attorney General’s office, Ascencao used the money to finance his 2018 campaign without properly disclosing the funds.

The AG’s office said Ascencao also failed to appoint a campaign treasurer, which is required by state law.

“As I have said previously, obscuring the truth when it comes to campaign finance isn’t about the amount of money involved. It’s not even about the low-rent behavior that some political operatives bring to campaigns. It’s about the public confidence in government that we lose when that happens, and the enormous damage that does to our state,” said Attorney General Peter Neronha.

In court Wednesday, Ascencao was given a five-year suspended sentence with probation. He was ordered restitution of $13,387.70 to the Rhode Island chapter of the Sierra Club. The court also imposed an additional $1K fine.