MICHELLE R. SMITH
Associated Press
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- Three people accused in an alleged kickback scheme that prosecutors say cost the U.S. Navy $10 million have waived a jury trial, and a federal judge in Rhode Island will instead decide whether they are guilty in a bench trial scheduled to begin in June.
U.S. District Judge Mary Lisi on Friday approved requests to waive jury trials by Ralph Mariano, 55, of South Arlington, Va., his girlfriend, Mary O'Rourke, 49, and his father, Ralph Mariano Jr., 81, of North Providence, R.I. The younger Mariano and O'Rourke are charged with counts including conspiracy, theft of government property and wire fraud. Mariano Jr. is charged with tax evasion, as is his son.
All three have pleaded not guilty.
-- An earlier version of this report was published at 9:26 a.m.