{"id":24104,"date":"2026-08-18T22:17:19","date_gmt":"2026-08-18T22:17:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=24104"},"modified":"2026-08-18T22:17:19","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T22:17:19","slug":"lawrence-mayor-brian-depena-arrested-for-alleged-covid-relief-fraud","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=24104","title":{"rendered":"Lawrence Mayor Brian DePe\u00f1a arrested for alleged COVID relief fraud"},"content":{"rendered":"


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NEW<\/span>You can now listen to Fox News articles!\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The mayor of a northern Massachusetts town went viral on social media in recent days after his lawyer told reporters the mayor doesn\u2019t speak English when they pressed him about being arrested for COVID-19 pandemic relief fraud.<\/p>\n

Lawrence Mayor Brian DePe\u00f1a, 61, was arrested Friday morning after an investigation into his alleged misuse of more than $1.5 million of Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), a program administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) under the CARES Act to assist struggling businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

“He doesn\u2019t speak English. No comment,” DePe\u00f1a’s lawyer said in the clip as DePe\u00f1a repeatedly smiles and says, “God bless you,” to the reporters.<\/p>\n

The clip of the exchange quickly spread on social media, prompting criticism from users wondering aloud why the mayor wouldn\u2019t be able to answer questions in English.<\/p>\n

MASSACHUSETTS MAYOR CHARGED WITH WIRE FRAUD IN $1.5M COVID RELIEF SCHEME<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Lawrence Mayor Brian DePe\u00f1a faces federal charges for allegedly using pandemic relief funds meant to assist struggling businesses for his mayoral campaign and to pay off his personal debts. DePe\u00f1a applied for the funds to help Tenares Tire Services Inc., his tire shop in Lawrence, federal prosecutors said.<\/span> (City of Lawrence)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

“OMG,” conservative influencer account LibsofTikTok wrote on X in a post viewed over 1 million times. “How is this real.”<\/p>\n

“\u2018He doesn\u2019t speak English, no comment\u2019 says the assistant of the mayor of an American city,” conservative radio host Mike Gallagher posted on X. “Our melting pot has completely melted.”<\/p>\n

WHITE HOUSE PUSHES ‘WATERSHED’ FRAUD-FIGHTING REFORM IN CONGRESS AS VANCE CONVENES TASK FORCE<\/strong><\/p>\n

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A sign advertises a COVID-19 vaccination site in New York, Feb. 2, 2021.<\/span> (Seth Wenig\/AP Photo)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

“English fluency should be a basic prerequisite for holding public office,” journalist Miranda Devine posted on X.<\/p>\n

“This is what happens when we not only import the third world, but elect the third world,” Texas Republican congressional candidate Jace Yarbrough posted on X. “Why is an unassimilated foreigner a mayor in America?”<\/p>\n

Shortly after the exchange with reporters, users on social media posted video appearing to show the car DePe\u00f1a left in after crashing into another parked car while attempting to drive away.<\/p>\n

Fox News Digital reached out to DePe\u00f1a’s office for comment.<\/p>\n

DePe\u00f1a, who was born in the Dominican Republic, was elected mayor of Lawrence in November 2021 and won re-election in November 2025. He previously served on the Lawrence City Council from 2016 to 2021. DePe\u00f1a has previously acknowledged that he was once an “undocumented immigrant,” saying he came to the United States “without papers,” and later became a U.S. citizen.<\/p>\n

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“Mayor DePe\u00f1a was elected to be a leader for the City of Lawrence,” U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley said. “He was looked up to and trusted by his constituents, but he betrayed that trust through his alleged corruption and lies. Today\u2019s arrest is just another example of our determination to root out fraud by anyone, even public officials, and hold elected officials accountable.”<\/p>\n

If convicted, DePe\u00f1a faces up to 30 years in prison.<\/p>\n

Fox News Digital reached out to DePe\u00f1a’s lawyer, Carlos Apostle, for comment.<\/p>\n

Fox News Digital\u2019s Louis Casiano contributed to this report.<\/i><\/p>\n

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Andrew Mark Miller is a reporter at Fox News. Find him on Twitter @andymarkmiller and email tips to AndrewMark.Miller@Fox.com.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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