Posted on 09/07/2019 5:31:11 AM PDT by mplc51
Massachusetts mayor arrested for extorting marijuana vendors for 6-figure bribes
Jasiel Correia II, the already embattled mayor of Fall River, Massachusetts, was arrested Friday on new federal extortion charges for allegedly operating a scheme to help marijuana vendors get approval to operate in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes.
Prosecutors say Correia agreed to sign non-opposition letters in return for significant six-figure payments from four marijuana vendors looking to open businesses in the city of nearly 90,000 about an hour’s drive south of Boston. The letters are required to obtain a license to operate a marijuana business in Massachusetts, where cannabis is legal.
Correia, 27, appeared in Boston federal court Friday afternoon and pleaded not guilty.
“I’m not guilty of these charges,” he told reporters afterward, standing next to his attorney outside the courthouse. “I’ve done nothing but good for the great city of Fall River, me and my staff, and my team. I’m going to continue to do great things for our citizens.”
The Democrat mayor also is accused of extorting $3,900 in cash and a $7,500-to-$12,000 “Batman” Rolex watch from a property owner in exchange for activating the water supply to his building. In addition, federal prosecutors say Correia demanded his chief of staff give him half of her $78,700 salary in return for appointing her and allowing her to keep her city job.
This isn’t even the first time he has been arrested.
Corrupt politicians in Massachusetts? Massachusetts? I have never heard of such a thing. /sarcasm
One down, so many to go.
That’s what he gets for not sharing with the local FBI office.
With a resume like that he should run for hire office.
Welly, welly, welly...
We should be able to pick off a whole bunch of these toads, one by one, prior to 2020. How hard could it be? Just look for blue states/cities/towns that say, ‘OK to Dope!’ and start turning over rocks.
There! I’ve done the work of TEN ‘Investigative Journalists’ all by my widdow self, and before 8am on a Saturday! :)
OMG. A brown Alfred E. Neuman!
He and AOC should get together! They could get into the Guinness Book of World Records by having a baby born with a full set of teeth, LOL!
He thought someone was going to sit still for that kind of larceny?
Maybe if it was a ‘No Show’ job and she could keep working he old job.
And that would not surprise me.
A Mexican Alfred E. Neuman! Ewwww...
Well surprise surprise surprise! Another rat in a rat stronghold up on criminal charges didnt see this coming
I’ll bet the taxpayers paid for those pearly teeth of his, too.
Brilliant....absolutely brilliant.
She probably ratted him out because he made a move on her. #MeTwo
The funny thing was, they had a recall election, and he was recalled. Then they had a new election and he was re-elected. Fall River is a famous for it’s Portuguese (not Brazilian) population. The longest bridge in the world connects Sommerset, MA to Fall River. It goes from Massachusetts to Portugal.
They will still win re-election
The Democrat mayor also is accused of extorting $3,900 in cash and a $7,500-to-$12,000 “Batman” Rolex watch from a property owner in exchange for activating the water supply to his building.
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A $7,500 Batman Rolex?! Not only is this guy a thief, his taste’s are gauche.
Too bad he did not try his extortion scheme in Southie.
That's what the article appears to be saying. "for appointing her and allowing her to keep her city job" implies that she was collecting the "chief of staff" salary AND was still collecting a salary for some other city job.
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