Chapter 19 - Dominic’s plea
Dominic’s criminal case took fourteen months.
No racketeering indictment.
No twenty-count organized-crime spectacle.
The prosecutor focused on what could be proven.
Dominic pleaded guilty to:
One felony theft/fraud-related count involving charitable funds.
One falsification/business-record count.
A separate minor offense related to his physical interference with my wheelchair was resolved without additional incarceration as part of the agreement.
The court considered:
No prior criminal history.
Restitution capacity.
Nonviolent financial offense.
Abuse of managerial position.
Impact on vulnerable families.
His cooperation in identifying DCH records.
Sentence:
Eight months county custody with eligibility for structured work-release during the latter portion.
Three years supervised probation.
Restitution of approximately $123,700 personally attributable to him, plus joint responsibility for additional agreed program losses where legally appropriate.
No fiduciary management of charitable funds during probation.
Community service.
Financial ethics program.
Not life imprisonment.
Not nothing.
At sentencing Dominic said:
“I treated the Sofia rooms like discounted inventory instead of a commitment to families.”
There.
Then:
“I moved people because I believed luxury guests mattered more to the hotel’s future.”
There.
The judge asked:
“And the consulting payments?”
Dominic looked down.
“I convinced myself I had created value and deserved compensation.”
There.
Finally:
“Mr. Romano was not begging.”
The judge said:
“That may be the least important factual correction in this case.”
May you like
Correct.
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