Digest

PROVIDENCE — A longtime member of the Patriarca crime family pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiring to extort payments from two men.

The U.S. Attorney’s office said Anthony St. Laurent Sr., 65, known as “The Saint,” demanded $100,000 from each of two victims in addition to $2,000 weekly payments as part of a shakedown effort.

Prosecutor Peter Neronha said St. Laurent was caught on tape April 4 telling two Rhode Island men to meet the victims in Massachusetts and obtain money from them.

If the victims refused to pay at least $50,000, St. Laurent told the men to give the victims “a smack” or “bash them,” prosecutors said.

St. Laurent was arrested three days later at his Johnston home, prosecutors said.

Thomas Connell, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s office, wouldn’t identify the two men with whom St. Laurent plotted.

CONCORD, N.H. — Former Allenstown Police Chief James McGonigle has pleaded not guilty to stealing money from several police organizations.

McGonigle filed the plea Tuesday in Merrimack County Superior Court, so an arraignment hearing scheduled for yesterday was not held.

He is free on $30,000 bail.

McGonigle resigned as chief in April and also gave up his seat on the Concord City Council.

The charges allege that between April 2003 and February of this year, McGonigle took money meant for the police department, the police association and the New Hampshire Police Cadet Training Academy.

PROVIDENCE — Gov. Donald L. Carcieri vetoed a bill yesterday that would have let 16- and 17-year-olds register to vote.

The bill, introduced by Edwin Pacheco, D-Burrillville, would have let teens “pre-register” to vote, with their registration automatically becoming active when they reach 18. Pacheco, 24, has said the bill was intended to help get young people involved in the political process.

Carcieri said he wants to encourage young people to vote, but letting teens register so far in advance would make it difficult for the Secretary of State to keep an accurate voter registry.

“Current law allows for all voters who will be eligible to vote in the next election to register,” he said.

Hawaii is the only state to let 16-year-olds register to vote.

But they can’t cast ballots until they are 18.

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. — The Coast Guard is investigating the death of a man who fell into the hold of a coal ship docked at a Public Service Co. power plant.

Officials say the 33-year-old crewman fell about 40 feet into an empty coal bin Monday evening, apparently while sweeping the deck.

The Coast Guard said the victim was not wearing a safety harness as he worked near the coal bin.

From Associated Press reports