West Hartford Man's Supporters Call Charges Against Him A 'Witch Hunt'

Two years after being indicted by a grand jury for allegedly embezzling money from the Institute for International Sport at the University of Rhode Island, West Hartford’s Dan Doyle is still awaiting trial but his supporters are declaring his innocence in the meantime.

The Providence Journal reports that New Jersey entertainment promoter George Dassinger is handling public relations for Doyle and has recently emailed statements to reporters in which Doyle and/or his supporters declare his innocence and speak of efforts to reveal “the individuals behind this witch hunt.”

Doyle, 66, of 84 Foxcroft Road in West Hartford, founded the Institute at URI in the 1980s and is accused of embezzling more than $1 million from 2005 through 2011, according to the Providence Journal. He was charged with seven counts of embezzlement, one count of obtaining money under false pretenses, five counts of forgery and counterfeiting, and five counts of filing false documents.

Amy Kempe, spokeswoman for the Rhode Island state attorney general’s office, told the Providence Journal the new public relation releases on Doyle’s behalf were “propaganda.”

Read the full story at the Providence Record Journal here.