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May 17, 2013 at 08:50 AM
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Two lawyers testified in federal court on Tuesday that they believe their former client was truthful when he pleaded guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy in a case alleging he used the identities of terminally ill people to illegally obtain tens of millions of dollars through variable annuities and so-called “death-put” bonds that would pay out when a person died.
Joseph Caramadre, an estate planning lawyer, is trying to withdraw the guilty plea he made mid-trial in the case in November. He was charged in a 66-count indictment along with a former employee, who also pleaded guilty. His new lawyers have said he should be allowed to withdraw the plea because there’s evidence he’s innocent and because the lawyers who represented him put on an inadequate defense, among other issues.
Michael Lepizzera and Anthony Traini, the lawyers who represented Caramadre at trial, testified on Tuesday that they believe, based on Caramadre’s own admissions, that some of the allegations against him were true.
Lepizzera said Caramadre made a number of “glaring admissions” to him that were damaging and “would constitute guilt.”
