'Career Con Man' Sentenced To 16 Years In Federal Prison

From the office of U.S. Atty. Peter Neronha:

A federal court judge on July 21 sentenced convicted Rhode Island con man Rocco DeSimone, 58, of Johnston, to 16 years in federal prison, United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha announced in a press release.

DeSimone was convicted in U.S. District Court in Providence in March 2011 for bilking numerous investors from around the United States out of more than $6 million dollars in cash and property by making false representations regarding the sale and/or marketing of three
inventions.

"Justice was served today. Mr. DeSimone is a remorseless, recidivist thief, who deserves every day of the 16 years' imprisonment he was sentenced to today," Neronha said in a statement. "It is my hope that today’s long sentence brings some semblance of comfort to Mr. DeSimone’s victims, many of whom parted with their life saving after being caught in his web of lies.”

DeSimone escaped from a minimum security facility in New Jersey in March 2008 after he learned that federal agents had executed a search warrant at his Johnston home in connection with this case. He was about to complete a federal prison term for tax fraud when he escaped from prison. He surrendered in Rhode Island three days later.

During a two week trial in March 2011, evidence was presented that DeSimone’s schemes involved the marketing of three inventions developed by two inventors: the Drink Stik, an invention designed to allow individuals wearing protective gear to drink fluids without having to remove the gear; the Song Tube,designed as an improved version of a gastrointestinal medical tube; and the Disk Shield, a protective shield for compact discs and DVDs.

DeSimone was also ordered to make restitution to his victims in the amount of $6,030,145. The Court entered a Preliminary Forfeiture Order on June 30, forfeiting numerous assets DeSimone gained through his schemes including a 2006 Ford GT sports car valued at $180,000, a painting by Pierre-Auguste Renoir known as Paysage a Cagnes and nine Japanese swords. The Government intends to utilize the forfeited items toward compensation to the victims for their losses, Neronha said.