Gerard Catala, the head of the Providence NAACP, has been found guilty of two counts of campaign finance violations. District Court Judge Anthony Capraro handed down the verdict on Wednesday, stating that Catala failed to file campaign finance reports. As a result, Catala has been sentenced to 20 hours of community service. If he remains out of trouble for one year, the case may be expunged.
Attorney General Peter Neronha criticized Catala for his actions, stating that he “blithely and repeatedly ignored campaign finance laws.” Neronha emphasized that failure to file such reports, despite repeated directives from the Board of Elections, can lead to criminal prosecution.
The case originated from an audit conducted by the Board of Elections’ Campaign Finance Division in 2022, which covered the period from January 2018 to June 2021. The audit accused Catala of various violations, including the failure to file campaign finance reports, bank account statements, and accurate records of political contributions and expenditures.
Following the audit, the Board of Elections referred the matter to the Office of the Attorney General and the Rhode Island State Police for investigation. The state was able to prove that Catala did not file two campaign finance reports due in the summer of 2022. However, earlier alleged violations were barred by the statute of limitations.
Catala’s attorney has appealed the conviction to Superior Court. The Providence Journal reached out to Catala’s attorney for comment, but no response has been received at this time.
It is worth noting that Catala has previously faced legal issues. In August 2023, he was charged with simple assault after allegedly assaulting a Providence man. The charge was later dropped by the city solicitor due to the inability to reach the alleged victim.
This article is based on the recent conviction of Gerard Catala, the head of the Providence NAACP, for campaign finance violations. The case originated from an audit conducted by the Board of Elections, and Catala has been sentenced to community service.
