Judge: Penn. Woman Violated Order in Contacting Insurance Trial Witnesses

A local GOP fundraiser and hostess from Doylestown, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to 30 days in jail after a judge said she violated a court order against contacting witnesses in her upcoming trial in a $20 million insurance fraud case.

Chester County Judge Thomas Gavin imposed the sentence on June 10 after finding 69-year-old Claire Risoldi in criminal contempt, saying she violated his no-contact order “beyond any question.”

Risoldi remains free pending appeal and also faces trial on witness intimidation charges.

Authorities alleged that Risoldi used a subpoena issued by her attorney to harass witnesses who testified in the grand jury investigation that led to her arrest.

Risoldi was charged with insurance fraud after her family’s mansion had three fires in five years. That trial has been delayed.