A former high-ranking Rhode Island lawmaker is scheduled to plead guilty to a number of federal criminal charges.
Ray Gallison, a Democrat and former chairman of the powerful House finance committee, agreed Thursday as part of a deal with prosecutors to plead guilty to mail fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and filing false tax returns.
Gallison has acknowledged taking nearly $678,000 from the estate of a dead client for whom he was executor.
He also acknowledged taking money from a nonprofit group that listed him as assistant director. The group was funded by state grants, and Gallison apparently never actually did any work. He also admitted taking $8,900 from the trust of a person with special needs.
He resigned from the House in May.