Turbulence ahead for cloud computing. CONNECT D1 Weather Tuesday May 17, 2011 $1.00 Home Delivery 401.277.7600 Periods of rain Forecast, B8 ECONOMY COURTS | NORTH PROVIDENCE CORRUPTION U.S. hits its limit on borrowing JOSEPH S. BURCHFIELD EDWARD IMONDI RAYMOND L. DOUGLAS III Unless debt ceiling is raised, 64 months 12 months, 1 day 78 months 3 years’ probation administration warns nation could be in 3 years’ probation 3 years’ probation $10,000 fine Return bribe money $22,500 fine danger of default on loans in 11 weeks Refund bribe money Refund bribe money JOURNAL WIRE REPORTS WASHINGTON — Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner informed Congress on Monday that the United States has reached its legal debt limit, set- ting off a time bomb that could explode in less than three months if lawmakers can’t bridge differences and allow more government borrowing. Jailed for extortion In hitting the $14.3-trillion debt ceiling — the lim- it on how much the government can borrow — the Obama administration on Monday began tempo- rarily halting payments to the retirement and fed- eral pension accounts of federal workers and start- ed borrowing from those funds. Those funds will eventually have to be restored. Geithner sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., warning that the government can move money around for about 11weeks but if a SEE DEBT, A9 ECONOMY Taco unveils $18-million plan to expand Company will add 25,000 square feet and renovate another 25,000 square feet at its headquarters on Cranston Street By NEIL DOWNING JOURNAL STAFF WRITER Cranston manufacturer Taco Inc. plans to THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL / MARY MURPHY launch an expansion and renovation within the next two weeks, a project that will cost about $18 Edward Imondi, convicted of being an accomplice in a North Providence corruption case, addresses the media on the steps after million and better position the company for future sentencing at the U.S. District Court in Providence Monday. growth, said Taco president John Hazen White Jr. “This building project is all about setting this business up to go to the next level of growth,” White said in a telephone interview Monday. 2 ex-councilmen and middleman sentenced in shakedown scheme Taco, the prominent maker of pumps, valves and accessories for heating and air conditioning By MARK REYNOLDS of the North Providence Town Council asked for 30 months. worldwide, has its headquarters and principal JOURNAL STAFF WRITER and, in that position, he and his co-con- Lisi suggested that Douglas’ conduct manufacturing operation at a 165,000-square-foot PROVIDENCE — Two former North spirators ran a shakedown operation.” in an illegal gambling racket, which the facility at 1160 Cranston St., Cranston. Providence councilmen who conspired Two hours later, she ordered former FBI learned about through wiretaps in to shake down businesses for bribes and Councilman Raymond L. Douglas III to the municipal bribery and extortion SEE TACO, A4 a middleman in the scheme will go to stand up to receive his sentence and case, puts him in a different category federal prison next month under sen- curtly told him he would serve 78 than Burchfield because he once tences imposed Monday in U.S. District months — 7 months longer than prose- “threatened violence and sent his thugs Court. cutors proposed. to his victim’s home.” Chief Judge Mary M. Lisi sentenced She began the day in the North Provi- She sentenced him to an additional GENERAL ASSEMBLY former Council President Joseph S. dence corruption case with the sentenc- 78 months for extorting debtors in the Burchfield to 64 months, as proposed by ing of Edward Imondi, 74, who deliv- sports-betting operation, but ordered prosecutors. ered bribe money to the councilmen in that time to run concurrent with the mu- Civil union bill due “This defendant held a leadership po- return for their votes in a zoning case nicipal-corruption sentence. She fined sition in what we now know was noth- involving a proposed condo project in a him $12,500 for the betting extortion. ing more than a criminal organization,” mill building. Imondi got 12 months and for committee vote Lisi said. “This defendant was president one day in prison. Prosecutors had SEE CORRUPT, A10 A full House debate and vote on the measure that faces opposition from both sides could happen as soon as Thursday PROVIDENCE By RANDAL EDGAR JOURNAL STATE HOUSE BUREAU PROVIDENCE — In the words of House Judi- Serious video-gamers have Convention Center in their cross-hairs ciary Committee Chairwoman Edith H. Ajello, gamers, and take up 1,400 hotel the civil unions bill that drew opposition last Major League Gaming will bring professional players where event attendees can meet room nights, according to John week from people on both sides of the same-sex professional gamers and take a and gaming products to its exhibition Gibbons, the commission’s ex- marriage debate is “a compromise that satisfies look at coming video-game re- By PAUL GRIMALDI ecutive director. no one.” tional championship competi- leases and gaming accessories. JOURNAL STAFF WRITER The bureau created the com- But Tuesday night, the same committee that tion. The Major League Gaming mission in October 2010 as a heard the testimony from dozens of people is ex- PROVIDENCE — The Rhode Video-gamers will compete series stops in Dallas, Texas; subsidiary to help pitch the pected to vote on the bill and, perhaps, set the Island Sports Commission, an in the Rhode Island Convention Columbus, Ohio; Anaheim, state’s virtues as a host for com- stage for a full House debate and vote as early as offshoot of the Providence War- Center Nov. 18-20 as they finish Calif.; Raleigh, N.C., and Orlan- petitive events ranging from Thursday. wick Convention & Visitors Bu- up a tour in which they are bat- do, Fla., before it arrives here. contract bridge and croquet to Ajello said Monday that while House bill 6103 reau, has secured a deal to bring tling for more than $1 million in The sports commission pro- 3,000 professional video-gam- money and prizes. The event jects the event will draw 16,000 ers to the city in the fall for a na- will include an exhibition area spectators, in addition to the pro SEE GAMES, A8 SEE BILL, A8 NATION RHODE ISLAND The Providence Journal Inside today For Trump, TV series © 2011 Published daily since 1829 race over departing R.I. Ask Amy D5 Money & Markets B2 before it begins “Body of Proof,” the Classified Nation & World Mail your donation to C6 B1 Donald Trump, whose TV series starring Comics Obituaries The Providence Journal D8 B4 public flirtation with a Dana Delany as a Summertime Fund Connect D1 People B1 presidential run over- crime-busting med- ical examiner, gets 75 Fountain Street Crossword D5 Poker D5 shadowed early stag- Providence, RI 02902 Editorial B6 Rhode Island A4 es of the Republican renewed for next Legal Ads A11 Sports C1 primary race, an- season but will no longer be filmed in Lotteries C2 Television D7 nounces he will not be a candidate. B2 Rhode Island. A4 C M Y K A 1 MAIN 5/17 j.