Federal authorities arrested Lawrence, Massachusetts Mayor Brian DePena on Friday, accusing him of stealing $1.5 million in COVID-19 relief funds to bankroll his political campaigns and clear personal financial obligations, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
DePena, 61, a native of the Dominican Republic who has made headlines for his limited English proficiency, was charged with wire fraud and money laundering. The FBI took him into custody, the Justice Department confirmed.
U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley did not mince words in announcing the charges. “Mayor DePena was elected to be a leader for the City of Lawrence. He was looked up to and trusted by his constituents, but he betrayed that trust through his alleged corruption and lies,” she said in a statement. “Today’s arrest is just another example of our determination to root out fraud by anyone, even public officials and holding elected officials accountable.”
How the alleged scheme unfolded
Court documents portray a systematic diversion of taxpayer-backed disaster loans intended to help small businesses survive the pandemic. DePena, who also runs Tenares Tire Services, obtained Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the Small Business Administration, and prosecutors say he treated those funds as a personal piggy bank.
In one instance, investigators say a $350,000 loan deposited into the business account was quickly dispersed: $85,000 went to settle personal tax debts, and $120,000 was transferred into DePena’s personal account. Then, the mayor wrote a series of checks totaling $90,000 to “The Committee to Elect Brian DePena,” his campaign fund. The account’s balance had sat at just over $20 before the money arrived.
A second round of loans, approved in October 2021, brought $1,154,188 into the Tenares Tire Services account. That money was moved into DePena’s personal bank account—which held only $1,401—on the same day it was received, according to the Justice Department.
From those funds, prosecutors allege, another $42,000 was routed to his mayoral campaign, and $883,293 was used to pay down mortgages on properties he owned in Lawrence.
If convicted, DePena faces more than 20 years in prison and potential fines reaching hundreds of thousands of dollars.
A mayor who rose on an ‘integrity’ platform
DePena, born in the Dominican Republic, first won the mayor’s office in Lawrence—a city about 25 miles north of Boston—in 2021, campaigning on promises of “integrity” and a “citizen-centered” government. He was re-elected in 2025, a testament to the political standing he built in a city where about 83% of residents identify as Hispanic.
Despite living in the U.S. for decades and holding public office, DePena has acknowledged his ongoing struggle with English. In March 2022, he told a local outlet, “I practice my English because it’s very important in America. For many years, another administration speaks perfect English and [didn’t provide] opportunity for better education, for businessmen, for kids, safety [in the] community.”
In city videos, DePena often addresses constituents in Spanish. Last year, during an unrelated court appearance related to his efforts to shield the acting police chief from an investigation, he requested a translator—a moment that went viral and drew national attention to his language limitations.
DePena does not yet have an attorney. The Daily Wire reached out to the mayor’s office for comment but did not receive a response.
The case adds to a growing list of COVID-relief fraud prosecutions across the country, as federal officials continue to pursue individuals who exploited pandemic programs. The Justice Department has made clear that public officials are not exempt from scrutiny.
Source: www.dailywire.com — https://www.dailywire.com/news/foreign-born-massachusetts-mayor-who-cant-speak-english-arrested-for-covid-fraud