BOSTON (AP) — Former Massachusetts House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi was convicted on Wednesday in a scheme to steer two state contracts worth $17.5 million to a software firm in exchange for payments to the powerful lawmaker and two of his close friends.
A visibly distraught DiMasi turned to hug his crying wife and stepdaughter after the verdict was read. He was convicted of conspiracy, extortion and theft of honest services by fraud.
DiMasi, a Democrat who resigned in January 2009, was the third consecutive House Speaker to leave office under an ethics cloud.
Also convicted of conspiracy and fraud was lobbyist Richard McDonough. Accountant Richard Vitale was acquitted. Both are close friends of DiMasi. A fourth man, former software salesman Joseph Lally, pleaded guilty before trial and testified against the others.
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