Vol. CXXXII · No. CLXXXIFRIDAY, JULY 10, 2026Ocean State Edition

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181 articles · page 4 of 16
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Disbarred immigration lawyer to plead guilty to wire fraud and tax evasion in federal case

Joseph Molina Flynn, a disbarred immigration lawyer and former Central Falls municipal judge, agreed to plead guilty to wire fraud and tax evasion in US District Court. Flynn faces charges stemming from allegations he defrauded clients of up to $150,000 and evaded between $550,000 and $1.5 million in taxes. Under the plea agreement, he will pay $83,265 in restitution to victims and at least $550,000 to the US Treasury, with his East Greenwich home sold under forfeiture.

bostonglobe.comJUN 17, 2026
JudiciaryPaywall

Providence sues major fire truck manufacturers over alleged price-fixing and market consolidation

The city of Providence filed a federal antitrust lawsuit in US District Court accusing three major fire truck manufacturers and a trade organization of doubling or tripling equipment costs through an 'anticompetitive scheme.' The suit claims industry consolidation has left the city paying $2 million for a 2023 aerial ladder truck—nearly double the $1.3 million paid in 2020—and waiting years for delivery. The case is part of a national crisis in fire apparatus manufacturing.

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© 2026 RI Capitol · All rights reserved.Aggregated summaries linking out to original sources. XPoLL.
bostonglobe.comJUN 17, 2026
JudiciaryFree press

Man sentenced to life in prison for 1987 child sexual assault cold case in Exeter

Frank Joseph Thies, 70, of Indiana was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences at the ACI after a December conviction for first-degree child molestation and first-degree sexual assault in a 1987 cold case. Thies sexually assaulted two juvenile female victims at knifepoint in woods in Exeter on April 12, 1987. Attorney General Peter Neronha credited genetic genealogy advancements for finally enabling justice in the case.

turnto10.comJUN 17, 2026
JudiciaryPaywall

Immigration proceedings resume after US complies with Rhode Island judge's order

USCIS announced on June 15 that it would comply with US District Judge John J. McConnell Jr.'s order striking down immigration hold policies, resuming adjudication of asylum applications, work permits, and naturalization ceremonies for affected nationals. The agency posted an alert stating it "strongly disagrees" but will follow the court's terms pending further review. USCIS filed an appeal to the First Circuit the same day it announced compliance.

bostonglobe.comJUN 16, 2026
JudiciaryFree press

Disbarred Providence immigration lawyer reaches plea deal in fraud case

Former Providence immigration lawyer and Central Falls municipal judge Joseph Molina Flynn agreed to plead guilty to wire fraud and tax evasion charges, according to documents filed in federal court June 15. Prosecutors allege Molina Flynn collected money from clients for immigration services he did not provide and misappropriated at least $98,000 in client funds. The plea agreement calls for at least $83,265 in restitution to victims and $550,000 to the federal government.

wpri.comJUN 16, 2026
JudiciaryFree press

Rhode Island Supreme Court reverses summary judgment for late affidavit in collection action

The Rhode Island Supreme Court vacated a summary judgment granted to American Express National Bank in a credit card debt collection case. Justice William P. Robinson III ruled the trial judge erred by relying on a supporting affidavit the bank submitted the morning of the hearing, rather than with its motion three months earlier. The court found this violated Rule 6 of the Superior Court Rules of Civil Procedure and criticized the bank's "fast-and-loose" conduct.

rilawyersweekly.comJUN 16, 2026
JudiciaryGovernanceFree press

Bristol objects to RITBA's second extension request in Mount Hope Bridge records lawsuit

Bristol town officials objected to the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority's second request for more time to respond to a federal lawsuit over a Mount Hope Bridge inspection report. RITBA cited an ongoing TSA review of the "sensitive security information" designation, but Bristol countered that the agency has claimed such a review was underway since June 2025. The dispute centers on whether RITBA violated Rhode Island's public records law by refusing to release the full inspection report.

wpri.comJUN 16, 2026
JudiciaryFree press

RI Supreme Court affirms legal malpractice claim time-barred under three-year statute

The Rhode Island Supreme Court affirmed dismissal of a legal malpractice lawsuit brought by Warwick Cove Marina against attorney Elizabeth McDonough Noonan, finding the claim time-barred. The plaintiff filed in April 2020, more than three years after Noonan's representation ended in December 2016. The court rejected Warwick Cove's argument that it only discovered potential malpractice when a receiver's report was issued, finding deposition testimony showed the plaintiff was aware of concerns about counsel's strategy years earlier.

rilawyersweekly.comJUN 16, 2026
JudiciaryFree press

US District Court rejects nexus challenge to Rhode Island drug investigation search warrant

US District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy denied a defendant's motion to suppress evidence from a residence search in an alleged cocaine distribution and money laundering case. The defendant challenged the nexus between his residence and alleged criminal conduct, arguing the affidavit provided only slim evidence. Judge McElroy found the FBI special agent's affidavit established a fair probability that evidence of money laundering — such as bank records — would be found at the residence, and applied the good faith exception.

rilawyersweekly.comJUN 16, 2026
JudiciaryPaywall

Federal Judge Issues 135-Page Opinion Blocking Trump's Country-Based Immigration Freeze

In a 135-page opinion, US District Chief Judge John J. McConnell Jr. vacated Trump administration policies freezing asylum, citizenship, and work permit applications for nationals of 39 countries. McConnell noted the irony that policies targeting immigrants 'following the laws' contradicted claims that immigrants should come 'the right way.' Immigrant advocates and Providence Mayor Brett Smiley praised the June 5 ruling as 'a significant win' for Rhode Island and the entire country, though the administration has appealed and sought to stay the order.

bostonglobe.comJUN 15, 2026
JudiciaryGovernanceFree press

Special Master to Referee Washington Bridge Email Discovery Disputes

Judge Brian Stern assigned retired Judge Netti Vogel to manage document discovery disputes in the state's Washington Bridge lawsuit, including access to emails from Gov. McKee, Deputy Chief of Staff T. Joseph Almond, and RIDOT Chief of Staff John Igliozzi. Defendants Barletta, Aetna, and AECOM say the state has refused to produce key communications and records on bridge inspection and maintenance. The order cites case complexity and aggressive timeline pressures as rationale for the special master appointment.

wpri.comJUN 15, 2026
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