Concerned citizens write to Judge Lisi asking for stricter sentence for Fox
By Samantha Lavien
@SLavienABC6
Less than a month after the former Speaker of the House plead guilty to corruption charges, concerned Rhode Islanders are writing to the Judge overseeing sentencing in the case, trying to get a harsher penalty for Fox.
So far, eight letters have been submitted.
Former Speaker Fox plead guilty earlier this month to felony charges of wire fraud, bribery and falsifying a tax return. Part of that plea involved a deal he worked out with prosecutors for a 3-year sentence in Federal Prison.
But U.S. District Court Judge Mary Lisi will have the ultimate ruling on his fate in a few months.
One letter reads in part, “Please, you need to send a message to the corrupt politicians of Rhode Island that if they are caught they will pay the penalty.”
Another reads, “We need to send a message to politicians of this state, that our government is not for sale.”
ABC6 Legal Analyst Ken Schreiber explains that many things will be taken into consideration before Judge Lisi issues a formal sentence.
“I would anticipate that Judge Lisi will take into consideration any and all information, documentation, materials, whatever that may be submitted to her.”
And even though there is a plea agreement, Schreiber explains it is different in Federal Court.
“In the Federal Court usually the recommendations are made through negotiations between the parties themselves so the Judge usually will not see the agreement until it is before her.”
“Here there is nothing that the Judge can or cannot do to erase what’s already been done. She has complete digression as to what she thinks is an appropriate sentence.”
Fox is set to be sentenced June 11 at 9:30 a.m. in Federal Court.
© WLNE-TV 2015
