BOSTON – A former software salesman whose testimony was instrumental in the corruption trial of former Massachusetts House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi was sentenced Wednesday to 18 months in prison for his role in the scheme.
Joseph Lally had pleaded guilty earlier and cooperated with federal prosecutors in exchange for a lighter penalty.
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Lally testified about a scheme to use DiMasi’s political clout to steer two state contracts to Cognos, the company for which he was a salesman, in exchange for kickbacks.
DiMasi, who resigned as speaker in 2009, was convicted June 15 of conspiracy, extortion and honest services fraud. Prosecutors said he steered two contracts worth a combined $17.5 million to Cognos in 2006 and 2007.
Lally could have faced more than 10 years under federal guidelines, but prosecutors had recommended 28 months in prison. Defense attorneys wanted a one-year sentence followed by six months of home confinement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodore Merritt said prosecutors considered the help Lally gave them in the case against DiMasi and co-defendant Richard McDonough.
“The evidence that he provided in the case was significant, one might say instrumental, in achieving convictions of the defendants,” Merritt said.
Lally’s attorney, Michael Liston, said Lally’s cooperation resulted in great personal pain for him and his family. He said Lally’s three children have faced ridicule.
Lally’s voice cracked occasionally as he apologized in court to his family, as well as his former employer Cognos, a Burlington-based company.
“There is no excuse for my conduct,” he said. “I was wrong. I knew it was wrong.”
He added, “I realize now how greedy and self-centered I’ve been.”
Judge Mark Wolf said he believes the sentence is appropriate to send a message that fraud by public officials will not be tolerated, but still punishes Lally for his role.
“You have accepted responsibility for what you did,” he told Lally, “and you did testify honestly, and that contributed to convictions in an important case.”
He ordered Lally to report to prison Dec. 5. His prison term will be followed by three years of supervised release. He must also pay a $50,000 fine.
DiMasi is appealing his sentence of eight years in prison, the longest given to an elected official in Massachusetts.
DiMasi’s defense has claimed that $65,000 in payments funneled to DiMasi through a law partner were valid legal fees and not bribes.
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