Former Senate aide charged with fraud

PROVIDENCE – A deputy chief of staff to former Senate President Joseph A. Montalbano has been charged in a 54-count criminal case alleging various acts of fraud in a check-cashing scheme.
Raymond T. “Chip” Hoyas Jr., 50, was charged with one count of obtaining money under false pretenses from the state, one count of larceny and 52 counts of forgery. He pleaded not guilty in Providence Superior Court last week, The Associated Press reported.
Hoyas, a Pawtucket resident, was released on $10,000 personal recognizance. He is due back in court on Feb. 4 for a pre-trial conference.
The charges allege that while acting in his capacity as deputy chief of staff to Montalbano, Hoyas submitted falsified hours of time worked by 52 former Senate pages, received payroll checks in the former pages’ names, forged signatures and co-signed his name on the checks, and deposited the checks into his personal bank account.
According to Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch’s office, the R.I. State Police Major Crimes Unit found that from Feb. 11, 2005, through Dec. 12, 2008, Hoyas allegedly cashed more than 170 checks for various amounts totaling approximately $70,000. He allegedly used several of the former pages’ names multiple times.
No senators or other staff members are believed to have known of the alleged scheme, The AP said. •