DiMasi faces arraignment on corruption charges

By Globe Staff

Former Massachusetts House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi is slated to be arraigned in federal court today, along with three friends, on charges that they orchestrated a scheme that allowed DiMasi to pocket tens of thousands of dollars in payments from a software company while using his clout to ensure the company won state contracts.

Salvatore F. DiMasi

DiMasi, whose indictment last week caused ripples of dismay and outrage at the State House and in the general public, has denied wrongdoing. He faces up to 20 years in prison on each of seven counts of mail and wire fraud and up to five years for conspiracy.

The indictment paints an unflattering picture of a band of longtime associates, led by DiMasi, successfully plotting – over golf games, at Democratic fund-raisers, and in incriminating e-mails – to rig two computer software contracts, helping to assure state approval for them. The charges follow a series of stories in the Globe.

DiMasi was considered one of the most powerful elected officials in the state until his resignation in January.

His co-defendants are Richard McDonough, Joseph Lally, and Richard Vitale. The arraignment is set for 4:15 p.m. before US Magistrate Judge Richard Collings.