Providence councilman to resign after pleading to felony embezzlement charge

July 29, 2019 4:23 pm

By Jordan Mazza

Email: news@abc6.com

Twitter; @ABC6

PROVIDENCE, R.I (WLNE) – Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced that former Providence City Councilman, 56-year-old Luis Aponte, pleaded nolo contendere today to a felony count of embezzlement.

Aponte was sentenced to a 4.5-year suspended sentence with 4.5 years of probation, and as part of his plea, he is required to resign from his position on the Providence City Council.

“Today’s felony conviction of former Councilman Luis Aponte for stealing from his campaign funds once again underscores the importance of holding public officials accountable when they break the law and erode the public’s trust in government,” said Attorney General Peter F. Neronha.

Neronha also stated, “using one’s campaign fund to pay personal expenses is a form of public corruption because it may lead to improper influence over official acts, particularly by large-scale donors whom the public official may feel particularly indebted. Mr. Aponte’s resignation as a result of his felony conviction is welcome news for people of Providence, who can move forward with representation that is committed to serving them, and no one else.”

Authorities say that Aponte embezzled nearly $14,000 from his campaign, which he used for Xbox Live, iTunes, and Netflix subscriptions, as well as cable and gas bills.

Aponte was indicted on May 10, 2017 by a Providence County Grand Jury. Despite that, he narrowly won the Democratic primary and then won re-election.

Fellow City Councilman David Salvatore said Aponte’s felony conviction underscores the need for the council to pass his ethics ordinance, which would bar elected officials from serving once they are indicted.

“Elected officials across Rhode Island have to think long and hard about their respective positions, and the fact that embezzling campaign finance money is not going to be tolerated by the people of Rhode Island,” Salvatore said.

Current City Council President Sabina Matos also emphasized the importance of ethics for elected officials.

“As public servants, we are held to a higher standard,” she said in a statement, “and Councilman Aponte’s resignation is a necessary and important step forward as we continue to focus on creating greater opportunities and improving quality of life for Providence’s residents and taxpayers.

Prior to Monday’s plea, Aponte had rejected an earlier plea agreement at a hearing on June 14, 2019 and was given a trial date of September 9, 2019.

A special election must be held within 90 days of Aponte officially submitting his resignation.