Feds say NP town councilman was bookie

NORTH PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - A federal grand jury has dropped another charge against former North Providence Town Councilman Raymond Douglas for using extortion to collect gambling debts owed to him.

Prosecutors allege Douglas ran an illegal sports gambling operation out of North Providence, taking bets on both professional and college sports.

Federal investigators say Douglas made numerous attempts to collect debts from a bettor over the phone and sending numerous text messages. And at least on one occasion, sending another person to the bettors house to collect the debt.

According to court documents obtained by Target 12, Douglas left a message for the victim stating: “I know where you live, I know where you play golf. I mean I can find you... I guess if you don’t want to call me then it’s out of my hands and then someone else will knock on your door I guess or whatever.”

• Read Douglas' indictment

Though Douglas is not charged with physically assaulting the bettor, prosecutors say Douglas offered to damage the bettor’s vehicle which would permit him to file a fraudulent insurance claim to pay for the repairs and then allow him to repay the gambling debt to Douglas.

An arraignment has yet to be scheduled on the latest charge in a sweeping public corruption probe in North Providence.