FBI agents, equipped with bulls horns and battering rams, conducted a raid on the home of a mayor in Massachusetts who stands accused of misappropriating $1.5 million in COVID-19 relief funds for personal use, according to law enforcement and media reports.
Brian DePeña, the 61-year-old mayor of Lawrence, was taken into custody on August 14, facing federal charges of wire fraud and money laundering in what turned out to be a dramatic operation by the FBI.
“The FBI has arrested Mayor Brian DePeña on charges of exploiting a public health emergency to blatantly defraud a program aimed at helping businesses during the pandemic,” said Ted E. Docks, the FBI Special Agent in Charge of Boston, in a press release.
Authorities allege that the scheme began innocently enough.
In 2020, DePeña secured a $150,000 federal disaster loan for his tire and auto service company, Tenares Tire Service, through a Small Business Administration initiative intended to assist businesses affected by the pandemic.
However, the year that followed saw alleged financial troubles for DePeña.
Documents indicate he was in need of cash for his mayoral campaign, had unpaid taxes, and was dealing with high-interest loans tied to several properties in the area.
Prosecutors claim that DePeña solicited additional government loans totaling around $1.5 million and subsequently diverted those funds from his tire business.
They assert that over $880,000 was used to cover high-interest mortgages on various properties and businesses, while approximately $90,000 was funneled into his mayoral campaign ahead of the 2021 election.
Despite these allegations, DePeña won re-election and is set to run again in November 2025.
The mayor, who holds dual citizenship in the United States and the Dominican Republic, made an appearance in Boston federal court on August 14 and was released under conditions that include surrendering his passport, periodic reporting to probation, and not leaving Massachusetts. He also cannot seek additional loans without court approval.
Outside the courthouse, DePeña’s attorney, Carlos Apostol, denied any intentions of resignation, asserting that “No, he’s done a great job in Lawrence,” as reported by the Boston Special Report.
U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley criticized DePeña for betraying the trust of the local community, emphasizing that prosecutors are committed to pursuing fraud charges against public officials.
In a similar vein, Special Agent Docks noted that when elected leaders misuse federal funds for personal benefit, they erode public trust and break the law, emphasizing that they will face full prosecution.
If found guilty, DePeña could be sentenced to up to 20 years for wire fraud and up to 10 years for money laundering, alongside potential fines and supervised release.
Neither he nor his attorney provided comments when approached for responses to the allegations.
