Massachusetts mayor charged with wire fraud in $1.5M COVID relief scheme
The mayor of a Boston suburb is facing federal wire fraud and money laundering charges for allegedly using more than $1.5 million in pandemic-era small business loans to pad his campaign account, pay personal taxes, and settle high-interest real estate debts.Lawrence Mayor Brian DePena, 61, was arrested Friday morning following an investigation into his alleged misuse of Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) — a program administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) under the CARES Act to assist struggling businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.DePena was elected mayor of Lawrence in November 2021 and won reelection in November 2025.
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The mayor of a Boston suburb is facing federal wire fraud and money laundering charges for allegedly using more than $1.5 million in pandemic-era small business loans to pad his campaign account, pay personal taxes, and settle high-interest real estate debts.Lawrence Mayor Brian DePena, 61, was arrested Friday morning following an investigation into his alleged misuse of Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) — a program administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) under the CARES Act to assist struggling businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.DePena was elected mayor of Lawrence in November 2021 and won reelection in November 2025. He previously served on the Lawrence City Council from 2016 to 2021."Mayor DePena was elected to be a leader for the City of Lawrence," said U.S. "He was looked up to and trusted by his constituents, but he betrayed that trust through his alleged corruption and lies.
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- What's the story?
- The mayor of a Boston suburb is facing federal wire fraud and money laundering charges for allegedly using more than $1.5 million in pandemic-era small business loans to pad his campaign account, pay personal taxes, and settle high-interest real estate debts.Lawrence Mayor Brian DePena, 61, was arrested Friday morning following an investigation into his alleged misuse of Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) — a program administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) under the CARES Act to assist struggling businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.DePena was elected mayor of Lawrence in November 2021 and won reelection in November 2025.
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Massachusetts mayor charged with wire fraud in $1.5M COVID relief scheme
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