{"id":6622,"date":"2026-08-15T15:37:37","date_gmt":"2026-08-15T15:37:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=6622"},"modified":"2026-08-15T15:37:37","modified_gmt":"2026-08-15T15:37:37","slug":"massachusetts-mayor-arrested-for-allegedly-ripping-off-1-5m-in-covid-funds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=6622","title":{"rendered":"Massachusetts mayor arrested for allegedly ripping off $1.5M in COVID funds"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

FBI agents armed with a bullhorn and battering ram descended on the home of a Massachusetts mayor accused of turning $1.5 million in COVID relief money into a personal piggy bank, according to authorities and reports.<\/p>\n

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Lawrence Mayor Brian DePe\u00f1a, 61, was busted on Aug.14 on federal wire fraud and money laundering charges in the dramatic FBI operation, according to WCVB5 in Boston.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe FBI arrested Mayor Brian DePe\u00f1a for allegedly cashing in on a public health crisis and blatantly defrauding a government program meant to keep businesses afloat during the pandemic,\u201d FBI Boston Special Agent in Charge Ted E. Docks said in a press release.<\/p>\n

Prosecutors say the alleged scheme began innocently enough.<\/p>\n

In 2020, DePe\u00f1a obtained a $150,000 federal disaster loan for Tenares Tire Services, Inc., his Lawrence tire and auto service business, through a Small Business Administration program designed to help companies battered by the pandemic, .<\/p>\n

But the following year, prosecutors allege, DePe\u00f1a\u2019s finances were squeezed.<\/p>\n

His mayoral campaign needed cash, he owned back taxes and he was facing high-interest loans tied to several Lawrence properties, authorities said in the affidavit.<\/p>\n

DePe\u00f1a allegedly sought repeated increases to the government loan until it ballooned to roughly $1.5 million \u2014 then diverted the cash away from the tire business.<\/p>\n

Federal prosecutors allege more than $880,000 went toward paying off high-interest mortgages on other properties and businesses, while another $90,000 was funneled into his mayoral campaign ahead of the 2021 election, according to a the press release.<\/p>\n

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DePe\u00f1a won that race and was re-elected in November 2025.<\/p>\n

The mayor, a dual citizen of the US and Dominican Republic, appeared in Boston federal court on Aug. 14 and was released under conditions that including surrendering his passport, reporting to probation and remaining in Massachusetts. He also cannot apply for loans without court approval.<\/p>\n

Outside court, his attorney, Carlos Apostle, shot down suggestions the mayor would resign, reported the Boston outlet.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, he\u2019s done a great job in Lawrence,\u201d the lawyer said.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

US Attorney Leah B. Foley accused DePe\u00f1a of betraying the trust of Lawrence residents, saying the arrest showed prosecutors would pursue alleged fraud \u201ceven [by] public officials,\u201d according to the press release.<\/p>\n

Special Agent Docks added, \u2018When elected officials misuse federal funds for personal gain, they\u2019re breaking the trust of their constituents \u2014 and breaking the law \u2026\u00a0You\u2019ll be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and that `easy money\u00b4 won\u00b4t seem so easy after all.’\u201d<\/p>\n

If convicted, DePe\u00f1a faces up to 20 years in prison on the wire fraud charge and up to 10 years for money laundering, along with possible fines and supervised release.<\/p>\n

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Neither the mayor nor his lawyer returned requests for comment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Brian DePe\u00f1a, the Mayor of Lawrence, was arrested and charged on Aug. 14, 2026, in connection with the alleged fraud that authorities said amounted to over $1.5 million of Covid-19 relief money that was used for personal purposes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6621,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6622","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-us-news"],"yoast_head":"\nMassachusetts mayor arrested for allegedly ripping off $1.5M in COVID funds - Metro Transit Review<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=6622\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Massachusetts mayor arrested for allegedly ripping off $1.5M in COVID funds - 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