Mayor Accused of Misusing COVID Loans | Boston News

Lawrence Mayor Brian DePeña is facing federal arrest and serious charges after allegedly misusing $1.6 million in COVID relief loans meant for small businesses—diverting funds to his own campaign, debts, and property mortgages. The scandal spans 2020-2021, with prosecutors claiming misuse even occurred while he was mayor, adding a layer of betrayal to the corruption. U.S. Attorney Leah Foley called it a breach of public trust, and DePeña, already under scrutiny for secret recordings at City Hall, now faces wire fraud and money laundering charges—with the FBI taking him into custody. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/16138b4315425ec2