Ex-Rhode Island Speaker To Plead Guilty To Federal Charges

Former Rhode Island House Speaker Gordon Fox is expected to plead guilty to charges of bribery, wire fraud and filing a false tax return following an investigation that included a dramatic federal raid on the Statehouse.

The court documents unsealed Tuesday say Fox and the government reached a plea deal.

He's accused of receiving tens of thousands of dollars to help grant a liquor license to a bar near Brown University when he served as vice chairman of the Board of Licenses. He's also accused of making 28 interbank transfers totaling $108,000, taking the money from his campaign account and using it for personal expenses.

Fox was once considered among the most powerful politicians in state politics, but he was forced to resign his speakership after the 2014 raids.