Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin announced that former Rhode Island State Senator Patrick T. McDonald (DOB:9/22/64), with a last known address of 56 Meadow Rue Trail, Saunderstown, was found guilty of three counts of embezzlement and one count of conspiracy for stealing approximately of $163,000 from clients during real estate closings. The jury returned the guilty verdict in just two hours after a week-long trial before Superior Court Justice Brian P. Stern.
During the course of the trial, the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that former Senator McDonald, a real estate attorney, stole monies from clients he was representing during real estate closings and used the funds for his own benefit. The State proved that McDonald used funds in escrow to pay operating expenses for his law office, house expenses, and dinners and hotel stays for himself and his mistress, employee and co-conspirator Kimberly Gostomski.
"Patrick McDonald created an elaborate web of deceit to conceal his crimes and he violated the trust of his clients to pay for his adulterous lifestyle. This is a clear case of greed and corruption by someone who people entrusted with their hard-earned money and dreams of home ownership," said Attorney General Peter Kilmartin.
The case was investigated by the Rhode Island State Police, led by Lori Tellier, an investigator with the Financial Crimes Unit. Assistant Attorney General and Chief of the White Collar Crime Unit Ronald R. Gendron prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of Attorney General.
McDonald was remanded to the ACI following the verdict with a bail review scheduled for January 23, 2014.