Former state senator indicted in R.I.

PROVIDENCE, R.I., April 19 (UPI) -- John Celona, a former Rhode Island state senator, has been indicted by a state grand jury hearing evidence about capitol influence selling.

Celona, D-North Providence, was named in an indictment unsealed Monday, the Providence (R.I.) Journal reported. The newspaper said Celona was informed of the charges but not arrested. He is to appear May 25 in Providence Superior Court for arraignment.

Celona served for more than nine years in the Rhode Island Senate, stepping down in March 2004 after police confiscated documents and computer equipment from his home.

The charges against Celona include obtaining money under false pretenses, a felony that could lead to a 10-year prison term. The other charges are misdemeanors that carry a maximum one year in prison sentence.

Authorities allege that Celona made deals with companies he was in a position to help through his position as a state senator, a series of ethics code violations plus filing false financial disclosures, the Journal said.

State Police Superintendent Col. Steven Pare said the investigation was ongoing and asked that any potential witness step forward "before we come looking for you," the Journal reported.

A federal investigation in the case was also ongoing.