A Massachusetts mayor was arrested on Aug. 14 on allegations that he fraudulently secured more than $1.5 million in COVID-19 small-business loans to fund his election campaign and pay personal taxes and mortgages.
Lawrence Mayor Brian DePena, 61, was charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering, according to a statement by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Massachusetts.
DePena has been released from custody following his initial appearance in federal court in Boston on Aug. 14, subject to several conditions, including turning over his passport.
According to his indictment, he allegedly applied for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) for Tenares Tire Services Inc., a tire sales and automotive services business he owned in Lawrence, between 2020 and 2021. …