Cranston Man Indicted for Bribing RI's Jailed and Corrput Former Speaker of the House: Police

A 48-year-old Cranston man and part-owner of the former Shark Sushi Bar and Grill in Providence is facing bribery charges for allegedly paying off disgraced former Speaker of the House Gordon Fox in exchange for liquor license approval from the Providence Board of Licenses.

Raymond P. Hugh, of 75 Mayfield Ave., Cranston, was indicted by the Providence County Grand Jury. The grand jury reported out the secret indictment on Friday.

Hugh allegedly gave Fox cash and checks “as an inducement and reward for moving and voting to approve a liquor license application” for the bar between Aug. 13 and Sept. 5 of 2008, said Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin and Rhode Island State Police Superintendent Col. Stephen G. O’Donnell.

Fox was convicted on corruption charges earlier this year and is currently serving a three-year prison sentence.

Fox admitted that he was paid $52,500 during his time on the board of licenses along with admitting to wire fraud and filing a false tax return.

Hugh co-owned the bar with Bahij Boutros and Joseph Dalomba.

The restaurant has since closed. The board of licenses stripped the bar of its business licenses and Boutrous filed for receivership, according to WPRI.

Hugh is scheduled to be arraigned in Providence County Superior Court on Nov.18.

The maximum penalty for a person convicted of bribery of a public official is not more than 20 years and a fine not less than $5,000 nor more than $50,000 or three times the monetary equivalent of the gift or valuable consideration, whichever is greater.

The Fox scandal was yet another grim smear on the states reputation, reinforcing that the state is ruled by a “I know a guy” mentality. Shockingly, Fox was greeted by his fellow lawmakers with a standing ovation the day he returned to the State House after his arrest.