A grand jury has indicted Providence City Councilor Kevin Jackson on five separate counts, including embezzlement and personal use of campaign funds. The finding follows Jackson’s arrest by State Police in May, and his subsequent resignation as majority leader of the city council.
Authorities have accused Jackson of stealing more than $127,000 from the Providence Cobras, a youth track and field club Jackson co-founded in the late 1970’s. Jackson is also accused of misappropriating roughly $12,000 in campaign contributions, and filing false campaign finance reports.
Reporting from WPRI-Channel 12 had previously revealed that the Cobras received more city council grant funding than any other Providence organization, about $23,000 since 2006.
Jackson’s attorney, Artin Coloian, declined RIPR’s request for comment on the grand jury’s indictment.
Jackson will face an arraignment in Superior Court in Providence on August 10th.
