Charles F. Denno, Wire Fraud, RI 2024

Charles F. Denno, 66, of East Providence, has agreed to plead guilty to wire fraud after stealing more than $500,000 from the Providence Plan, a nonprofit that channels federal and private grant money into education programs across Rhode Island. The former finance director abused his position for years, funneling cash meant for children and low-income adults into his own pockets—leaving a trail of forged checks, shell companies, and gambling withdrawals.

Between 2012 and July 2016, Denno used his authority to divert funds from the U.S. Department of Education and the Bloomberg Family Foundation into Providence Plan accounts—then siphoned them off for personal use. He created and issued unauthorized checks payable to CMG Enterprises, a company he secretly owned. Each check was forged with the signature of an authorized official, slipping past internal controls while Denno drained over half a million dollars from the nonprofit’s coffers.

The stolen funds didn’t vanish quietly. Denno made repeated cash withdrawals from a CMG bank account, including ATM pulls at Twin River Casino, along with credit card payments and personal check disbursements. Investigators traced the money’s path through financial records, uncovering a sustained pattern of theft that undermined the mission of a program funded annually with more than $4 million in federal grants.

Providence Plan, a nonprofit with a mandate to expand educational access, now faces scrutiny over its internal oversight. Officials say they cooperated fully with law enforcement once Denno’s scheme unraveled. Still, the betrayal stings: every dollar stolen was meant to serve vulnerable Rhode Islanders who rely on programs the nonprofit was created to support.

U.S. Attorney Peter F. Neronha didn’t mince words. “Every dollar the defendant stole— and he stole an outlandish amount—could have served someone who really needed it,” he said. “It is precisely this type of conduct that gives rise to unwarranted public cynicism regarding such worthy programs.” He praised the Providence Plan for its cooperation after the fraud came to light.

Denno faces up to 20 years in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. The case, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. McAdams, was investigated by the Rhode Island State Police Gaming Enforcement Unit, the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General, and the FBI Boston Division. The charge was filed as an information—a formal accusation that precedes a guilty plea. Trial is not expected.