Johnston lawyer facing ethics charges

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A Johnston lawyer is facing state ethics charges for allegedly helping to defraud about 15 people out of more than $3.4 million in an Internet scam.

The disciplinary counsel for the state Supreme Court filed the charges against 65-year-old Donald DeCiccio (deh-SISS'-ee-oh). The Providence Journal reports (http://bit.ly/10di7RY ) that Chief Disciplinary Counsel David Curtin accused DeCiccio of various acts of professional misconduct that could result in discipline ranging from a law license suspension to disbarment.

Curtin says an alleged commodities broker who defrauded the victims out of the $3.4 million met DeCiccio on the Internet, and DeCiccio funneled the money into his client account last year. Curtin alleges DeCiccio then wired the money to various locations after paying himself a fee of nearly $69,000.

DeCiccio declined to comment Friday morning.

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Information from: The Providence Journal, http://www.providencejournal.com