Former Police Union Chief Sentenced To 6 Months Federal Prison & 6 Months Home Confinement

NEWPORT, RI — Christopher Hayes, 49, of Middletown, R.I., was sentenced in Providence federal court on Friday, the U.S. Attorney's office said. A former Newport Police sergeant and union president, Hayes had pleaded guilty to wire fraud. He was accused of using more than $71,000 of the union's money for personal expenses, including credit card payments.

U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith ordered him to serve six months in federal prison plus six months home confinement after he leaves prison. The judge also gave him three years' probation, 300 hours of community service and ordered him to repay $71, 523 restitution to the union, Fraternal Order of Police, Newport Lodge No. 8

The U.S. Sentencing Guidelines range in this matter is 12 to 18 months, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. The government recommended the court impose a sentence of 12 months in prison.

However, judges are not required to follow the guidelines. According to court records, Hayes had asked the court for 18 months' probation — and no prison time — on the one condition he would make full restitution. In his memo, he had argued that the more time he spent in prison, the longer it would take to repay the money.

The court also reviewed letters of support from his wife, other family members, and old friends. J. Clement 'Bud' Cicilline also asked the court to look favorably on Hayes, as did Middletown police office Richard Gamache, and retired Newport police officer Henry Lombardi, now director of campus safety at St. George's School.

Hayes pleaded guilty on May 1, 2017, to wire fraud. At the time of his guilty plea, Hayes admitted to the court that between August 2009 and December 2014, he used an FOP debit card to pay for his own personal expenses; wrote checks payable to himself from the FOP bank account; withdrew cash from the FOP bank account for personal use; and made online payments to his personal credit card from the FOP bank account.

The union president, Jason E. Brown, did not immediately respond to the Patch's request for a comment.

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