Former City Council Candidate Found Guilty of Violating State Campaign Finance Law
GoLocalProv News Team
Former City Council Candidate Found Guilty of Violating State Campaign Finance Law
On February 28, 2024, Judge Anthony Capraro found Gerard Catala (age 45) guilty of two counts of failing to file campaign finance reports as required by state law. Judge Capraro filed the case for one year and ordered 20 hours of community service.
During the trial, the State "proved beyond a reasonable doubt" that Catala knowingly and willfully failed to file two required finance reports, stemming from his candidacy for the Ward 9 city council seat in the 2022 election.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTCatala, through his attorney, immediately appealed the conviction to the Rhode Island Superior Court following the decision.
About Case
In 2022, the Board of Elections referred the matter to the Office of the Attorney General and the Rhode Island State Police for investigation.
The referral from the Board of Election followed repeated failures by Catala to timely file required campaign finance reports, despite having received numerous communications from the Board of Elections regarding filing requirements, according to the AG's office.
During the trial, the State proved the defendant failed to file a required campaign finance report for candidates due 28 days before the primary (August 16, 2022) and a second required campaign finance report due seven days before the primary (September 6, 2022).
It is alleged that despite numerous communications from the Board of Elections, the defendant failed to file either required report. Prosecution of earlier alleged failures to file required reports were barred by the applicable statute of limitations.