VA Man Wants Public To Pay Attorney Fees in Navy Kickback Case
Ralph M. Mariano has hired former U.S. Attorney Robert Corrente as his defense lawyer.
Ralph M. Mariano of Virginia, the man accused of receiving a bribe in the alleged Navy kickback scheme, now wants the public to pay his attorney fees, reports The Providence Journal.
Mariano's newly-hired defense lawyer, U.S. Attorney Robert Corrente, has told the courts his client is "indigent," reports The Providence Journal.
Mariano, 53, of Arlington, VA, a former engineer with the U.S. Navy’s Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), is accused of accepting bribes as a public official from Portsmouth resident Russell E. Spencer.
Mariano allegedly accepted kickbacks of naval funds from Advanced Solutions for Tomorrow (ASFT), a Middletown company.
Spencer recently admitted to lying to investigators and prosecutors on three occasions between September 2011 and January 2012 about a relationship he had with another person, and that he provided gifts and monies to that person from proceeds he realized from the kickback scheme. He now faces up to 5 years in federal prison; up to 3 years of supervised release; and a fine of up to $250,000.
Shirley C. Lally
1:02 pm on Friday, May 4, 2012
He's got to be kidding. He defrauds the public and now wants us to pay his attorney fee?
East side
1:14 pm on Friday, May 4, 2012
No different than your town council is doing with the DEM fines? Instead of rolling over and coming up with a plan, they get the lawyers rich.
getreal
1:05 pm on Friday, May 4, 2012
Let him use some of his " hidden money "!!!!
Jfri
12:22 am on Sunday, May 27, 2012
Yes, it is hard to believe he was spending it as fast as he was getting it and the conversation about buried money wasn't that long ago. However, since this buried money really doesn't belong to him, I guess he really could be poor.
raymond mey
2:42 pm on Friday, May 4, 2012
once you hire your own defense attorney...you are on your own dime. If you are indigent and not going to opt to respresent yourslf, the court will appoint an attorney for you. That is the law...fork up the money or live with the attorney that is court appointed.
raymond mey
11:11 am on Saturday, May 5, 2012
Good Point....but, when you are guilty, you are guilty and a fair trial and good judge will take that into consideration which will surely end in conviction with max sentences of monetary payback and jail time. Hopefully, Mr Mariano will be a guest at the ACI for a few years.
Jo Brown
9:02 pm on Sunday, May 6, 2012
The public is more likely to pay the costs of your lengthy incarceration!
ralph
8:50 am on Monday, May 7, 2012
That's pretty funny, that Mr. Mariano is claiming to be broke. I can remember him driving his Mercedes and spending money like it was water. Was it not so long ago, that he was at FoxWoods or the Mohegan playing slots,etc. This guy has the gaul to ask the avg. taxpayer to front his legal team. Haven't we forked over enough taxpayer funding to this clown. Put him in a cell and throw away the key. He is nothing but a narcissist.
Mary
12:38 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
Napoleon Complex- thinks we owe him something. What a hyprocrite- going to church all the time and acting like he is above the law. Renting a cadillac every time he traveled for work (whose dime was that on?).
Jfri
12:23 am on Sunday, May 27, 2012
Where did he go to church? NUWC did turn their head to him because they were doing wrong too.
ralph
8:58 am on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
@Neil Ansucket- I'm not sure if they repo'd his car, but I'm sure it will be.LOL As far as him, like I wrote, I hope he gets the max. I think like a hundred people lossed their jobs because of a few greedy people. In this tough economy, losing ones job is extremely unfortunate. I know some folks who lossed their jobs, and some were making very good money. To be doing well by working hard and have it only taken away at a moments notice, is just so wrong. Greed in this country is out of control.
Liz Taurasi
12:28 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
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