Rhode Island House Leader Charged With Misappropriating Campaign Funds

The deputy majority whip of the Rhode Island House of Representatives has been arrested and charged with misappropriating more than $6,000 in campaign contributions.

State Police say they arrested Rep. Joseph Almeida on Tuesday.

The 57-year-old Providence Democrat was still in custody and could not immediately be reached for comment. He was due to be arraigned in district court later Tuesday.

Col. Steven O'Donnell said in a press release announcing Almeida's arrest that the charges stemmed from an audit by the Rhode Island Board of Elections.

Police said the board found Almeida withdrew cash and wrote several checks from his campaign account to himself.

O'Donnell said Almeida was unable to show satisfactory documentation to support $6,122.03 in expenditures.