Zambarano sentenced for role in scheme

PROVIDENCE – A former North Providence town councilman was sentenced to nearly six years in prison after he, along with two other former councilmen, pleaded guilty for their part in a bribery scheme, The Associated Press reported.
John Zambarano, along with Joseph Burchfield and Raymond Douglas III, admitted earlier this year to soliciting bribes in exchange for votes on zoning and licensing issues. Last week, Zambarano also pleaded guilty to a separate insurance-fraud scheme.
Burchfield was previously sentenced to five years and four months in prison, while Douglas received six-and-a-half years. Douglas also pleaded guilty to collecting illegal gambling debts by extortion, the AP reported.
U.S. District Court Chief Judge Mary Lisi said the message she intended the sentences to send was that “if you are a government official and you use the authority of your office to line your pockets and to engage in corrupt behavior, you lose a lot.”
The bribery scheme orchestrated by Burchfield, Douglas and Zambarano netted $46,000 before they were arrested. The money came from two developers looking to conduct business in the town. &#8226