Mayor Arrested on Federal Fraud and Money Laundering Charges
FBI and IRS agents arrested Lawrence Mayor Brian DePeña, 61, at his home Friday morning. Federal prosecutors charged him with wire fraud and money laundering tied to COVID-era small business loans.
- $1.5 million in Economic Injury Disaster Loans were allegedly misused.
- $883,293 allegedly went to pay high-interest mortgages on Lawrence properties.
- $85,000 in loan funds allegedly paid his personal IRS tax debt.
- $90,000 allegedly transferred to his mayoral campaign committee.
Why it matters: EIDL loans were restricted to working capital for pandemic-affected businesses. Prosecutors say DePeña applied the funds instead to personal and political purposes.
- DePeña is a two-term Democrat first elected in 2021.
How 15 sources split on this story
Where they split: Coverage does not split on the underlying facts; left and right outlets report the same charges, but right-leaning outlets frame the arrest primarily around DePeña's party affiliation.
Left coverage, 3 sources: The left covers the arrest as a straight public-corruption story, focusing on the breach of constituent trust and the mechanics of the alleged fraud.
Right coverage, 10 sources: The right frames the arrest as evidence of a pattern of Democratic politician misconduct, emphasizing party affiliation prominently in headlines and commentary.
PJ Media10hTwo More Democrat Politicians Caught for Lucrative Fraud
Boston Herald5hLawrence Mayor Brian Depena arrested, charged with pandemic loan fraud, money laundering
Fox News4hMassachusetts mayor charged with wire fraud in $1.5M COVID relief scheme
The Daily Caller34mDemocrat Charged In Alleged $1,500,000 Pandemic-Era Fraud Scheme
The Daily Wire21hForeign-Born Massachusetts Mayor Who Can’t Speak English Arrested For COVID Fraud
The Gateway Pundit2hJUST IN: Democrat Massachusetts Mayor Arrested on Fraud and Money Laundering Charges – Used $1.6 Million in Covid Loans as Personal Slush Fund to Pay Off Mortgages * The Gateway Pundit * by Cristina Laila
The Washington Times5hMassachusetts mayor charged with stealing pandemic money
Washington Examiner2hMassachusetts mayor charged with laundering $1.5 million in COVID-19 loan racket
WND31m‘Corruption and lies’: Dem mayor charged in alleged $1.5M pandemic-era loan fraud and money-laundering scheme * WorldNetDaily * by Ireland Owens, Daily Caller News FoundationWhat’s next: DePeña was scheduled to appear in federal court in Boston on Friday.
- It was unclear Friday whether DePeña had retained legal representation.
- Will DePeña resign, and who would assume mayoral duties in Lawrence?
- What plea will DePeña enter, and will prosecutors pursue additional charges?