The Patriarca Papers Experts

Monday, July 27, 2015

GoLocalWorcester News Team

GoLocalWorcester has tapped many of the leading experts on organized crime in New England to review and offer analysis of the FBI files on Raymond Patriarca - the head of the New England crime organization.

The "Patriarca Papers" will be officially launched on August 3 -- and GoLocal's experts have over 100 years of mob experience.

SLIDES: See the Preview of Experts' Knowledge on Patriarca BELOW

As criminal defense attorney Artin Coloian told GoLocal, "It depends on whose account you listen to – law enforcement says he had vast control over a nefarious empire. If you listen to people in his neighborhood, he was a kind and generous man."

The experts have a sweeping array of experiences with Patriarca and his organization. "His influence pervaded all aspects of life in Rhode Island from the politicians, cops, even the church where he got a priest to alibi for him. Subsequently, the alibi was discovered to be phony when Col. Stone sent a trooper to the parish to check parish records. The priest was supposed to be baptizing a baby with Mr. Patriarca in attendance and there was no such baptism. Col. Stone loved to tell this story," said former Attorney General Arlene Violet.

Related Slideshow: The Patriarca Papers Experts

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Col. Doherty

Brendan Doherty - Former Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police. Doherty was assigned by legendary Superintendent of the State Police Walter Stone to the state police Intelligence Unit, commonly known as the Organized Crime Unit, in 1986. He is widely respected for his leadership.

In 2014, Doherty ran for the United States Congress in the 1st District. Presently, he serves as a top level executive with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island.

PHOTO: Courtesy of Richard McCaffrey

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General Violet

Arlene Violet - Served as Rhode Island Attorney General from 1985 to 1987. The former nun in the order of the Sisters of Mercy was the first woman elected as a state Attorney General in the United States.

For more than a decade, Violet had been a radio talk show host in Providence and she has been in private law practice since leaving the Attorney General’s office.

In 2010, Violet and former Police Chief John Partington published “The Mob and Me,” about the federal witness protection program.

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Col. Foley

Thomas Foley - Served as the Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police. In 2004, he was awarded the United States Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service for his role in the Whitey Bulger/John Connolly investigation.

In 2012, Foley and John Sedgwick wrote, “MOST WANTED: Pursuing Whitey Bulger, the Murderous Mob Chief the FBI Secretly Protected.”

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Artin Coloian

Artin Coloian — A criminal defense attorney, he has represented some of the most infamous members of the New England Mafia, including top mafia leader Bobby DeLuca. Coloian served as chief of staff to Vincent “Buddy” Cianci, Jr.

Coloian was indicted in the US Justice Department’s corruption probe of Providence that led to the conviction of then Providence Mayor Cianci. Coloian was found innocent of the government’s charges.

Since leaving City Hall, Coloian has been one of the most prolific criminal defense attorneys in New England.

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Chief Tamburini

Richard Tamburini - Today he serves as the police Chief in Johnston, RI.

Chief Tamburini began his distinguished law enforcement career as a patrolman with the Providence Police Department. He was assigned to the Providence Detective Bureau as a Detective. Later, Tamburini was promoted to Lieutenant and teamed on an investigative team with Detective Vincent Vespia.

He was the first police officer outside of the Rhode Island State Police to be granted the right to conduct wiretapping.

Tamburini is recognized as having been one of the most effective in fighting organized crime in New England.

He is a member of the RI Criminal Justice Hall of Fame.