MICHELLE R. SMITH
Associated Press

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — The leader of an $18 million kickback scheme targeting the Navy wants a federal appeals court to throw out his 10-year sentence, arguing prosecutors failed to honor promises they made when he signed a plea deal.

A lawyer for Ralph M. Mariano also argues in court papers the judge failed to award him credit at sentencing for accepting responsibility.

The government had promised to recommend a more lenient sentence if Mariano continued to accept responsibility. But after Mariano sent several complaints about alleged prosecutorial misconduct to the judge and Justice Department, prosecutors did not recommend the lighter sentence. They said Mariano had explicitly denied the scheme in the complaints.

The U.S. attorney’s office did not comment Wednesday.

Mariano, of South Arlington, Virginia, worked for the Navy in Washington. The scheme also involved people and companies in Georgia and Rhode Island.

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