Staff

The staff of the Ethics Commission (see Directory below) has responsibility for the daily operations of the agency.

Executive Director/Chief Prosecutor

The Executive Director/Chief Prosecutor is the chief administrative officer of the Ethics Commission managing all day-to-day activities and personnel, directs all investigative and enforcement activities, oversees the prosecution of complaints before the Commission, litigates matters before the Superior and Supreme Courts of Rhode Island, and coordinates implementation of all policy decisions of the Commission.  Jason Gramitt, Esq. (contact information below) is the Commission's Executive Director/Chief Prosecutor.

Senior Staff Attorney

The Senior Staff Attorney has oversight over all investigative matters, conducts prosecutions, represents the Commission in court litigation and drafts legal recommendations for the Commission regarding advisory opinions, legislation and policy matters.  Katherine D'Arezzo, Esq. (contact information below) serves in this capacity.

Education Coordinator

The Education Coordinator designs, develops and directs all educational programs, including seminars and publications, online and virtual trainings, and coordinates the Commission's advisory opinion and public access programs.  Lynne Radiches, Esq. (contact information below) serves in this capacity.

Staff Attorneys

Staff Attorneys draft advisory opinions, coordinate regulatory compliance, provide research, and are delegated by the Executive Director to lead investigations, prosecutions, litigation matters, and provide legal counsel regarding all of the Commission's activities.  The Commission's Staff Attorneys are Teresa Giusti, Esq., Teodora Popova Papa, Esq., and Lynne Radiches, Esq. (contact information below).

Investigators

The Commission's Investigators investigate complaints filed by private parties and initiated by the Commission, oversee preliminary investigations and process and review non-complaint information received by and/or referred to the Commission. They also provide investigative support to all other areas of the Commission's mission, including financial disclosure.  The Commission's Investigators are Peter Mancini, Chief of Investigations, Gary Petrarca, Senior Confidential Investigator and Kevin Santurri, Deputy Chief of Investigations (contact information below).

Financial Disclosure Officer

The Commission's Financial Disclosure Officer is responsible to the administration of financial disclosure of 4,500+ annual filings of public officials, major decision-makers, and candidates.  The Commission's Financial Disclosure Officer is Michelle Berg (contact information below).

Administrative Staff

The Office Manager and administrative staff maintain all Commission records, process all Commission documents and correspondence, fulfill APRA requests, process financial disclosures, serve as clerks in complaint matters, handle all correspondence, and provide general administrative support to all Commission programs and activities.  The Commission's Office Manager is Tracy Teixeira.  Administrative Assistants are Sabrina Depina and Jessica Cruz. 

Legal Counsel

The services of the Legal Counsel are retained independent of the executive director or other Commission employees. The counsel responds independently to questions of law posed by Commission members in contested matters. The Commission’s Legal Counsel is Herbert F. DeSimone, Jr., Esq.

Rhode Island Ethics Commission