Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia Pleads Not Guilty To More Charges

FALL RIVER, MA — The youngest mayor in Fall River history may also be the naughtiest. Jasiel Correia was arrested Friday, the second time in less than a year the defiant 27-year-old was taken from his home by federal authorities. Correia, already facing federal fraud and tax charges, is now accused of extorting marijuana vendors for cash, according to U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling.

Correia is now facing 22 counts on various charges, including nine new ones he pleaded not guilty to Friday afternoon in U.S. District Court in Boston. He soon after told the media he would not resign, saying he will "continue to do great things" for the historic mill city in Southeastern Massachusetts.

Correia received $600,000 in bribes from at least four marijuana businesses, prosecutors said. In return, Correia is alleged to have given them documentation — letters of non-opposition — they needed to continue the process of opening for business.

Lelling said Correia at one point accepted $75,000 in the backseat of a car in exchange for paperwork.

"Without hesitation, Mayor Correia was extorting marijuana vendor after marijuana vendor," Lelling said at a late-morning press conference. "It's striking the lengths he went to get the money, and the seeming indifference with how overt his activities were."

Correia will not be allowed to travel outside Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Four other people were also charged.

The indictment unsealed Friday lists nine charges, including extortion and bribery. Correia was accused of demanding his chief of staff pay him half her salary and nearly all her $10,000 stipend to be appointed and keep the job, according to court documents.

Prosecutors also said Correia accepted money and a Rolex to approve a commercial property owner's building.

"When it comes to public corruption in Mass., this office is the primary deterrent," Lelling said. "I take that seriously, and we will continue to aggressively pursue corruption in local, city and state governments."

Correia, a Democrat, was arrested in October and pleaded not guilty to nine counts of wire fraud and four counts of tax fraud. He was accused of using more than $230,000 from investors in his start-up app SnoOwl on what federal prosecutors called his "lavish lifestyle and political campaign," buying himself a Mercedes, designer clothing, adult entertainment, student loans and dating services.

The day after Christmas, Correia said he would not resign, despite calls from the City Council to step down.

"The decision to resign or not resign is not solely my decision," Correia wrote at the time. "The answer to this question rests with the people of our City."

In March, the residents of Fall River opted to remove Correia in a recall election — but the following question was who should replace Correia, who found his way onto that same ballot along with four other candidates. Correia, despite essentially being recalled immediately before, won that election as the other candidates split votes.

Corriea assumed office in 2016, becoming the youngest mayor in city history at age 24.