{"id":2645217,"date":"2026-08-14T15:53:10","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T19:53:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/massachusetts-mayor-arrested-on-federal-fraud-charges\/"},"modified":"2026-08-14T15:59:49","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T19:59:49","slug":"massachusetts-mayor-arrested-on-federal-fraud-charges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/massachusetts-mayor-arrested-on-federal-fraud-charges\/","title":{"rendered":"Massachusetts mayor arrested on federal fraud charges"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmassachusetts-mayor-arrested-on-federal-fraud-charges%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2645217&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Mayor Brian depena of Lawrence, Massachusetts, was arrested on federal charges of fraud and money laundering related to COVID-19 small-business loans.He <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/illegal-immigrants-among-15-charged-in-massachusetts-fraud-crackdown\/\" title=\"Illegal immigrants among 15 charged in ... ... crackdown\">allegedly fraudulently obtained<\/a> over $1.5 million from the Small Business Governance\u2019s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program for his tire business, Tenares Tire Services. Initially, he received a smaller loan in June 2020, but by 2021, he &#8220;allegedly&#8221; increased the amount through multiple withdrawals and transfers, using the funds to pay personal debts, including taxes and mortgages, and to finance his mayoral campaign. Prosecutors claim that a significant portion of the disbursed funds-more than $1.15 million-was diverted into personal accounts.DePena, who was elected mayor in November 2021 and previously served on the city council, faces charges that could result in up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud and 10 years for money laundering.The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/comeys-attorney-in-leaking-case-is-one-of-the-guys-he-leaked-to\/\" title=\"Comey&#039;s Attorney In Leaking Case Is One Of The Guys He Leaked To\">case underscores concerns<\/a> over misuse of federal assistance programs meant to aid struggling businesses during the pandemic.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mayor Brian DePena of Lawrence, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/massachusetts\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"344\">Massachusetts<\/a>, was arrested Friday on federal charges that he <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/fraud\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"3188\">fraudulently<\/a> obtained more than $1.5 million in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/covid-19\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"11163\">COVID-19<\/a> small-business <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/loans\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"3886\">loans<\/a> and diverted the money to his political campaign and personal debts.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DePena, 61, was charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering, the U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office for the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/usao-ma\/pr\/massachusetts-mayor-charged-pandemic-loan-fraud-and-money-laundering\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/usao-ma\/pr\/massachusetts-mayor-charged-pandemic-loan-fraud-and-money-laundering\">District of Massachusetts announced<\/a>. He was expected to make an initial appearance in federal court in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/boston\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"828\">Boston<\/a> later Friday.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4687991\/lawrence-massachusetts-mayor-charged-laundering-covid-19-racket\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Massachusetts mayor charged with laundering $1.5 million in COVID-19 loan racket<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4687484\/doj-settlement-la-county-sheriffs-department-concealed-carry-permit-delays\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>DOJ announces settlement with LA County Sheriff\u2019s Department over \u2018excessive\u2019 concealed carry permit delays<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4687544\/luigi-mangione-pleads-guilty-unitedhealthcare-murder\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Luigi Mangione pleads guilty in UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson murder case<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Federal prosecutors allege DePena obtained the money through the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/small-business-administration\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1394\">Small Business Administration\u2019s <\/a>Economic Injury Disaster Loan program for Tenares Tire Services, a tire sales and automotive services business he owned in Lawrence. The <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >pandemic-era program offered low-interest loans<\/a> to businesses suffering economic disruptions, with funds generally restricted to working capital and other eligible business expenses.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DePena initially obtained a $150,000 loan in June 2020 and used most of it for legitimate business expenses, according to prosecutors. But authorities allege his financial circumstances had changed by the following year, as he faced a personal tax debt of nearly $900,000 in high-interest private mortgages and mounting expenses associated with his campaign for mayor.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2021, DePena allegedly sought out and received multiple increases to the federal loan. After $350,000 was deposited into his business account in August of that year, prosecutors say he used $85,000 to pay personal IRS debts and transferred $120,000 into a personal account. He allegedly then wrote $90,000 in checks to his mayoral campaign, characterizing them as campaign loans.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The SBA later approved another increase that brought the total loan to more than $1.65 million. Prosecutors allege DePena transferred more than $1.15 trillion from that disbursement into a personal account and used portions of the money for his campaign and to pay off private debts.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Authorities allege DePena ultimately used $883,000 in federal loan proceeds to pay off two high-interest mortgages tied to properties he owned in Lawrence. As of Aug. 5, prosecutors said the loan still carried an outstanding balance of approximately $1.65 million.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis was emergency financial assistance meant to be a safety net for struggling businesses, not Mr. Depena\u2019s own personal ATM,\u201d said Ted Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI\u2019s Boston Division. \u201cWhen elected officials misuse federal funds for personal gain, they\u2019re breaking the trust of their constituents \u2013 and breaking the law.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4677788\/white-house-launches-fraud-gov-to-track-fraud-cases\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4677788\/white-house-launches-fraud-gov-to-track-fraud-cases\/\">WHITE HOUSE LAUNCHED FRAUD.GOV TO TRACK FRAUD CASES<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DePena was elected mayor in November 2021 and reelected in 2025 after previously serving on the Lawrence City Council from 2016 to 2021.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The wire fraud charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, while the money laundering charges carry up to 10 years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lawrence Mayor DePena faces charges over $1.5M COVID loan fraud<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4130,"featured_media":2645218,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26226662542059.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[5175,6909,5610,4602,5894],"class_list":["post-2645217","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-arrest","tag-fraud","tag-massachusetts","tag-mayor","tag-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26226662542059.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2645217","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2645217"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2645217\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2645221,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2645217\/revisions\/2645221"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2645218"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2645217"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2645217"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2645217"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}