NewsRadio 920 WHJJ and the Associated Press

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A federal judge has denied a request from a prominent developer accused of bribing North Providence councilmen to dismiss the charges against him and his company.

U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell Jr. ruled Wednesday on five motions filed by the defense team. The developer, Richard Baccari Sr., and his company, Providence-based Churchill & Banks Co., are each charged with one count of bribery and one count of conspiracy.

McConnell denied the motions to dismiss the charges but did unseal documents in the case. The defense had argued that Baccari was treated unfairly and prosecutors presented false information to the grand jury.

The investigation was part of a larger federal corruption probe that resulted in the convictions of three North Providence councilmen and others.

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