PROVIDENCE – Former City Council President Luis Aponte pleaded nolo contendere to a felony count of embezzlement in R.I. Superior Court, Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced Monday.
As part of his plea, Aponte is required to step down from his position on the Providence City Council. Aponte resigned from his position of council president in 2017 following his indictment but remained on the council.
Aponte, age 56, was sentenced to a 4.5-year suspended sentence with 4.5 years of probation.
A nolo contendere plea, or no contest plea, is an acceptance of conviction without the admission of guilt by the defendant.
The state said that if the case had gone to trial, it was ready to prove that Aponte used $13,942 from his campaign account on personal expenses such as Netflix, Xbox Live, gas iTunes, cable bills and gas.
“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 Neronha in a statement. “Mr. Aponte’s resignation as a result of his felony conviction is welcome news for the people of Providence, who can move forward with representation that is committed to serving them, and no one else.”
Aponte was elected as City Council president in 2015, becoming the city’s first Latino council president.
Neronha’s office said that Aponte rejected an earlier plea agreement in June and had been scheduled for a trial date of Sept. 9.
Following the announcement of the plea, City Council President Sabina Matos issued a statement, calling Aponte’s resignation necessary.
“As public servants, we are held to a higher standard 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,” she said.
Noronha spokeswoman Kristy dosReis said that three other charges related to misuse of campaign fund misuse were dismissed because they were alternative theories to the same conduct in the embezzlement conviction.
Chris Bergenheim is the PBN web editor. You may reach him at Bergenheim@PBN.com.
