The Real Housewives of Rhode Island<\/em> star Liz McGraw<\/strong> is shutting down rumors about her exit from the show after one season.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s fascinating to me how everyone assumes my reason for leaving involves being afraid of \u2018skeletons\u2019 \u2026\u2019jail,\u2019 etc.,\u201d Liz, 56, wrote via her Instagram Stories on Wednesday, July 1, hours after she announced her departure from the Bravo reality show.<\/p>\n Liz\u2019s announcement comes amid close friend Dino Guilmette<\/strong>\u2019s ongoing legal battle. Dino, 47, who made an appearance on RHORI and was mentioned by Liz and husband Gerry McGraw<\/strong> multiple times, was arrested in March 2022 and charged with drug trafficking, conspiracy and financial fraud. He has been accused of supplying and conspiring to provide Lorazepam, a prescription sedative, to a friend\u2019s girlfriend, in addition to defrauding a pandemic-era state program out of $7,000 in rent-relief money.<\/p>\n In a 2021 search warrant affidavit, Rhode Island State Police Detective Matthew Lynch<\/strong> alleged that Guilmette ran a cocaine operation in allegiance with the Patriarca crime family in Latest England, in response to multiple reports. Guilmette has not been formally indicted for Mafia-related racketeering, and his lawyer has denied the ties to the Mafia.<\/p>\n Guilmette, who could withstand 88 years behind bars if convicted, rejected a plea deal to avoid jail time last month, together with his lawyer noting that Guilmette has maintained his innocence. The case will return to court on July 17.<\/p>\n Liz and Gerry, 55, were dragged into the legal proceedings in 2021 once they were named as Guilmette\u2019s associates within the affidavit, although they’ve not been accused of criminal activity. Fans have speculated that Liz pulled out of RHORI<\/em> in anticipation of Guilmette\u2019s trial.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is just not recent gossip \u2026 it has been the local slander for YEARS,\u201d Liz continued in her post on Wednesday, seemingly referring to rumors that Guilmette\u2019s case will uncover her own alleged nefarious activities. \u201cIf there have been even an oz of validity to it, I\u2019d not have ever gone on a show! I realize that for some, it feels good to take a position, hate and defame my character, but I even have never been investigated, nor involved in ANY criminal case. It\u2019s preposterous and folks should understand how utterly ridiculous it sounds.\u201d<\/p>\n Liz concluded, \u201cSorry to disappoint. It\u2019s wild to me how people feel at liberty to openly state such absurd claims as facts. Now that I even have time on my hands, I’ll start the technique of holding those originating and spreading such fiction accountable.\u201d<\/p>\n \t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/themes\/us-weekly\/assets\/img\/newsletter-bg-wide.jpg\")
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