PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Rhode Island Supreme Court has upheld a Superior Court judge's decision that John A. Zambarano is entitled to a refund of $30,554.20 he contributed to the Employees' Retirement System of Rhode Island before he was convicted of accepting bribes as a member of the North Providence Town Council.
The Supreme Court, in a judgment written by Justice Gilbert V. Indeglia, said the retirement board had no basis upon which it can refuse to return his contributions.
A final footnote in the opinion said: "Although the outcome of this appeal may appear unseemly to some observers, the fact that Zambarano is entitled to a return of his contributions does not change the reality that he remains liable on the federal court's $46,000 forfeiture judgment against him."
Zambarano is serving a 71-month prison term at a prison work camp near Richmond, Va.