A city mayor has been charged with stealing almost $250,000 (£190,000), which FBI investigators claim he used to shell out for a new Mercedes, jewellery, as properly as casino visits and his scholar financial loan financial debt.
Police say Jasiel Correia he collected the money from investments for his SnoOwl app, which was pitched as a platform to assist local enterprises join with shoppers.
But rather of applying it for the company, Correia, who was initially elected as mayor of Tumble River, Massachusetts at the age of 23, used the cash to fund a lavish life style.
Investigators said he spent $231,447 (£175,477) of the $360,000 (£273,535) he collected on the auto, casinos, grownup entertainment, jewelry for an ex-girlfriend and shell out down scholar financial loan debt.
The Democrat, who is of Cape Verdean descent, created background back again in 2015 when he turned the youngest individual to be elected mayor in the town of about 85,000 people.
The 26-yr-aged has now been billed with wire fraud and submitting untrue tax returns next a federal investigation.
‘‘His actions were being underhanded, shameless and greedy,’’ claimed FBI agent Hank Shaw. ‘‘Mr. Correia blurred the lines in between community business and private responsibilities, making use of trader funds as his possess individual ATM, systemically looting practically a quarter-million bucks.’’
Mr Correia was all smiles and even gave a thumbs up as he exited Boston’s federal court docket immediately after pleaded not responsible to all ‘bogus” allegations levelled against him, telling reporters he believes he will be vindicated.
“I glance forward to my day in court docket to share my aspect of the story and to crystal clear my title,’’ he explained in a prepared assertion.
Right after his arrest, proclaimed his innocence in a statement and claimed he experienced no intention of resigning.
In a tweet to his constituents, he vowed not to make it possible for the “unfortunate circumstances” to “impact the performing of town authorities, or my dedication to function as difficult as I possibly can, every single working day, to symbolize the citizens of the excellent Town of Fall River.”
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