RI DMV Head Won’t Face Charges in Prostitution Investigation

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — The pinnacle of Rhode Island’s Division of Motor Automobiles will not face felony prices in reference to an alleged prostitution operation that leased his rental property, the state’s lawyer normal stated Monday.

Legal professional Basic Peter Neronha stated his evaluate of the Rhode Island State Police investigation into DMV Administrator Walter “Bud” Craddock is full. His workplace concluded the proof doesn’t present “past an affordable doubt” that Craddock knew business intercourse exercise was happening at his property in Cranston, Rhode Island.

When requested for remark from Craddock Monday, a DMV spokesperson didn’t present it and directed inquiries to the governor’s workplace. The governor’s workplace is referring the matter to the state’s human assets division, and stated that “two highly-respected organizations” have completed a radical evaluate and “concluded there was no felony exercise or proof of wrongdoing in opposition to Craddock.”

Craddock has stated he had no information of any unlawful actions on the website and had by no means heard any complaints.

Rhode Island’s Republican Occasion stated Craddock ought to nonetheless be fired from his job.

“Though there will not be sufficient proof to cost Craddock with a criminal offense, there may be actually sufficient proof to indicate that Craddock had unhealthy judgment,” the occasion stated in a press release Monday.

Cranston Police shut down six unlicensed therapeutic massage companies in June that they alleged have been fronts for human trafficking and prostitution, together with one which rented property owned by Craddock by way of his actual property holding firm.

Neronha’s report back to the State Police on Monday stated it seems lease was paid in money, rubbish luggage have been taped over the home windows, and Craddock seemingly had purpose to suspect the enterprise at his unit was not a professional business enterprise, given his legislation enforcement background. Craddock served as Cranston’s police chief.

After receiving discover that his tenant engaged in or permitted prostitution to happen on the premises, Craddock took steps to evict them, the report states.

It concludes that whereas there may be “ample smoke” relating to the important difficulty of whether or not Craddock had information of the exercise, “there may be inadequate proof to ascertain hearth.”

Gov. Dan McKee requested the State Police final yr to analyze whether or not Craddock had any information of, or involvement in, the alleged prostitution operation. He stated then that the investigation was not felony in nature and Craddock would proceed to guide the DMV whereas it was underway.

The State Police concluded its evaluate in October, discovering there was no proof that Craddock had any felony legal responsibility in reference to the actions happening within the first flooring unit of his constructing. The State Police then requested Neronha’s workplace to evaluate the investigation.

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