Reputed mobster denies trying to arrange hit

By: The Associated Press | Turn to 10.com
Published: April 20, 2009

PROVIDENCE -- A reputed Rhode Island mobster pleaded not guilty Monday to charges that he tried to have a rival killed.

Anthony "The Saint" St. Laurent Sr. was arraigned via videoconference from a federal prison in Massachusetts where is serving a sentence on an unrelated extortion conspiracy conviction.

Prosecutors say St. Laurent, an alleged high-ranking member of the Patriarca crime family, offered in April 2006 to pay two men to kill Robert "Bobby" DeLuca, a rival and fellow reputed mobster.

In January 2007, he was sentenced to more than four years in prison for conspiring to extort at least $50,000 from two men by threatening them with physical violence if they didn't give him the money.

While in prison, prosecutors say, he continued to try to arrange the hit in a conversation that was secretly recorded by a cooperating witness.

His lawyer, Olin Thompson, told reporters outside court that his client will be vindicated.

"Mr. St. Laurent is not guilty," Thompson said. "I believe he'll be found not guilty in this case."

Thompson told a federal magistrate that John F. Cicilline, a prominent defense lawyer in other mob cases and father of Providence Mayor David Cicilline, will be taking over the case. Cicilline did not return a call seeking comment.

The case could go to trial as soon as this summer.