Convicted Ex-Mass. Speaker DiMasi Denied Bail

BOSTON (AP) -- A federal judge has denied former Massachusetts House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi's motion to allow him to stay out of prison on bail while he appeals his conviction on corruption charges.

The decision by U.S. District Court Judge Mark Wolf came after a hearing in federal court Friday.

DiMasi is scheduled to begin his eight-year sentence on Nov. 16. Co-defendant Richard McDonough is also set to report for his seven-year sentence on that day.

To win bail, defense attorneys had to show DiMasi's appeal had a good chance of success. Federal prosecutors opposed the motion.

DiMasi was found guilty in June of charges he steered two state contracts to a software firm in exchange for kickbacks.

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