FBI Arrests Top Democrat - Chaotic Scene Erupts Outside Court After He Makes Bizarre Appearance
A bizarre story out of Massachusetts dominated the newswires overnight for its various twists, turns, and details that would defy even the most creative fiction author.
Lawrence, Mass., Mayor Brian DePeña was arrested by the FBI Friday morning at his home and charged with allegedly misusing more than $1.5 million in COVID-era small-business loans, according to federal prosecutors.
Advertisement
A criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Boston accuses DePeña of wire fraud and money laundering. Prosecutors allege he obtained federal pandemic relief funds intended for his tire business but diverted the money for personal and political expenses.
“Mayor DePeña 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,” U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said.
Advertisement
“Today’s arrest is just another example of our determination to root out fraud by anyone, even public officials and holding elected officials accountable,” she added, per NBCBoston.
According to the complaint, DePeña allegedly used portions of the funds to support his mayoral campaign, pay personal tax obligations, and pay down more than $880,000 in high-interest mortgages tied to properties he owned in Lawrence.
Advertisement
Federal prosecutors said the loans were obtained through the Small Business Administration’s pandemic relief programs, which were designed to help businesses affected by COVID-19-related economic losses. Authorities allege the funds were instead used for expenses unrelated to the stated purpose of the loans.
DePeña, 61, was elected mayor of Lawrence in 2021 and won reelection in 2025. Before becoming mayor, he served on the Lawrence City Council from 2016 to 2021.
Foley accused DePeña of betraying the trust of Lawrence residents while emphasizing that federal authorities would continue pursuing allegations of fraud involving public funds, regardless of the defendant’s position.
DePeña appeared in federal court Friday and was released under conditions, including surrendering his passport and restrictions on seeking new loans without court approval. He has not entered a plea.
If convicted, he faces up to 30 years in prison.
Video of his appearance has left more questions than answers, as a chaotic scene appeared to unfold outside the courtroom.
According to eyewitnesses and video, a vehicle carrying DePena appeared to run into the rear of another vehicle, before backing up and then eventually leaving the scene – which is a crime in most jurisdictions.
Advertisement
Asked by Telemundo Nueva Inglaterra what message he had for the people of Lawrence, DePeña said in Spanish, “I love them, and they know I am an honest and decent man.”
Also, other reports claimed that the mayor, bizarrely, cannot speak any English.
Advertisement
The mayor has denied wrongdoing and indicated he does not intend to step down while the case proceeds.
“Of course. Anyone can be accused. People get accused of anything,” DePena told Telemundo.
“My enemies have accused me. What haven’t they made up about me?”
Advertisement
The charges come as federal investigators continue to pursue alleged misuse of pandemic relief programs, which distributed hundreds of billions of dollars nationwide and have resulted in numerous fraud prosecutions involving individuals, businesses, and public officials.
FBI Boston Special Agent in Charge Ted Docks wrote in a statement, “when elected officials misuse federal funds for personal gain, they’re breaking the trust of their constituents — and breaking the law.”
Former Barack Obama Aide Accused Of Stealing Cash, Credit Cards
It seems life has gotten more complicated for a former official who worked for then-President Barack Obama.
And it doesn’t look like things are going to improve anytime soon.
Adam Fetcher, 42, a deputy press secretary in the Obama administration, was fired from his communications job with the city of Minneapolis last week after allegedly stealing cash and credit cards from fellow city employees to purchase kratom, an herbal supplement sometimes used to manage opioid withdrawal symptoms.
Fetcher had worked as a communications officer for the city for about a year before his termination. According to the Minnesota Star Tribune, the alleged thefts occurred after he returned from a weeks-long, city-approved rehabilitation program.
A spokesperson for the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office told Fox News Digital that prosecutors have received the case from investigators and are reviewing it. Charges could be forthcoming.
Fox News Digital also said it contacted Fetcher’s attorney and the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office for additional comment.
Surveillance footage allegedly captured Fetcher purchasing kratom at a Minneapolis smoke shop. Kratom is commonly used by some people to help manage opioid withdrawal symptoms, though it also carries a risk of dependence.
According to the report, Fetcher allegedly used a charge card stolen from a city employee’s purse to make a $481 purchase at Minneapolis Tobacco & Vapor, located less than a mile from his home.
Store manager Hamza Zamara said employees assisted investigators in identifying Fetcher as the individual who allegedly used the stolen card.
Investigators were led to the shop after a woman contacted the business to report an unauthorized purchase on her credit card.
When Fetcher allegedly returned to the store, employees photographed him and followed him outside, according to the report.
They later provided investigators with the license plate number of the vehicle he was driving.
Surveillance cameras allegedly recorded Fetcher purchasing kratom at a Minneapolis smoke shop.
According to the Minnesota Star Tribune, Fetcher allegedly used a charge card stolen from a city employee’s purse to make a $481 purchase at Minneapolis Tobacco & Vapor, located less than a mile from his home.
Store manager Hamza Zamara told the newspaper that employees helped investigators identify Fetcher as the individual who allegedly used the stolen card.
The investigation reportedly focused on the shop after a woman contacted the business to report an unauthorized purchase on her credit card.
When Fetcher allegedly returned to the store, employees photographed him and followed him outside, according to the report.
They later provided investigators with the license plate number of the vehicle he was driving.
“We told him, ‘Hey, we know what you’re doing,’” Zamara said.
Fetcher was fired July 1. He was making $186,000 annually, Fox News reported.
“Under Adam’s leadership, the Communications team has reorganized, is fully staffed, and is well positioned to manage the City’s Communications needs,” City Operations Officer Margaret Anderson Kelliher wrote in an email to staff announcing the firing.
The email did not provide any details about the circumstances surrounding Fetcher’s departure.
In a separate memo, however, Kelliher said multiple city employees had reported cash, debit cards, or credit cards missing, along with unauthorized charges.
According to the memo, the incidents occurred between mid-May and June.
“I know this information may be concerning and troubling, and I want to assure you that the City takes this sort of report seriously and has acted accordingly,” she wrote, according to the email obtained by the Star Tribune.
May you like
“Although we cannot provide additional details, we have no reason at this time to believe there is any ongoing risk of theft,” she added.
Before joining the city of Minneapolis, Fetcher served as deputy national press secretary in the Obama administration and later held senior communications positions at Patagonia, Rivian, and Lyft.
