Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Harold L. Tillinghast Jr., a former organizer with the Laborers' International Union of North America in Rhode Island, pleaded guilty Wednesday afternoon to a felony charge of conspiracy for his role in a construction kickback scheme.

Tillinghast, 44, of Cranston, is cooperating with the government and will testify against his codefendants, Nicholas Manocchio, 55, and Gerald Diodati, 59, both of Cranston.

They were indicted with Tillinghast in November on charges stemming from a kickback scheme involving Rising Sun Mills, a redevelopment project on Valley Street in Olneyville.

Manocchio was Tillinghast's boss at the union, while Diodati is a contractor.

Tillinghast's cooperation surfaced after he pleaded guilty to the criminal charge. Vincent J. Falvo Jr., an assistant U.S. Attorney from the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., asked Judge William E. Smith to delay Tillinghast's sentencing to Sept. 18 because he was cooperating with the government and needed to testify at the trial of his former codefedants,

Manocchio and Diodati are scheduled to stand trial in September.

Tillinghast, who faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, remains free on bond.

 Tags  Laborers' International Union of North America in Rhode Island Providence R.I.

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