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Former CVS execs cleared in bribery trial
BOSTON |
BOSTON (Reuters) - A Rhode Island jury found two former CVS Corp executives not guilty on Friday of trying to bribe a former state senator to influence legislation in the drug chain's favor.
A jury in U.S. District Court in Providence cleared John Kramer, a former senior vice president of the one of the largest U.S. drug chains, and Carlos Ortiz, a former vice president, of all 23 charges, including fraud and bribery, court papers showed.
The two former officials of the company, now known as CVS Caremark Corp, were charged in January 2007 with paying former state Sen. John Celona to influence laws related to pharmacies.
Celona, who is serving a 2-1/2 year prison term after pleading guilty to corruption charges in 2005, served as the prosecution's star witness in the trial. Defense attorneys pointed out inconsistencies in his testimony, according to local media reports, and rested without calling Kramer or Ortiz to the stand.
Woonsocket, Rhode Island-based CVS bought pharmacy benefits manager Caremark in March 2007.
(Reporting by Scott Malone, editing by Jason Szep, Leslie Gevirtz)
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