By Donita Naylor
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- A federal appeals court has upheld the conviction and sentence of a former art dealer who conned investors out of more than $6 million, U.S. Attorney Peter F. Neronha reported Friday in a news release.
Rocco P. DeSimone, 58, of Johnston, was convicted March 16, 2011, of bilking his victims by selling them interests in inventions he claimed had been purchased by major corporations.
The First Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday upheld the conviction on seven counts of mail fraud and one count of money laundering, the sentence of 16 years in federal prison and the order to pay $6,030,145 in restitution and forfeit certain property, Neronha's news release said.