Richard Vitale was indicted in Massachusetts today.  According to reports, he is a “close friend” of House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi.

Richard Vitale is accused of secretly pushing legislation on behalf of the ticket brokers, which included directly lobbying DiMasi and House Speaker Pro Tempore Thomas Petrolati on several occasions.

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Vitale, 63, and his company were indicted on 10 counts. The charges include two counts of failing to file timely registration statements; making an illegal agreement for compensation contingent on the passage of legislation; and four counts of making campaign contributions in excess of the $200 maximum per year. WN Advisors is charged with two counts of failing to file timely registration statements and making an illegal agreement for compensation contingent on the passage of legislation.

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The Massachusetts Association of Ticket Brokers paid Vitale $60,000 as it pursued legislation that would deregulate their industry. Vitale had given DiMasi a rare, below-market-rate third mortgage in 2006 that DiMasi repaid after the Globe wrote about the arrangement.

Vitale has not acknowledged that he lobbied for the group. As a lobbyist, he would be prohibited by the state’s conflict of interest law from giving DiMasi the mortgage.