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FALL RIVER, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — First it was delayed over a month to January 10, then again for another two weeks to January 28, and now, former Fall River mayor Jasiel Correia has asked for his prison term to be pushed back for a third time- which could go as far as March.
Correia's attorneys filed a defense motion on Friday, requesting Judge Douglas Woodlock delay his surrender date until 14 days after the close of evidence in the government's case against his former chief of staff Genoveva Andrade, because of rising COVID-19 cases at the prison he was assigned to. Alternatively, the motion requested for a minimum 45-day delay.
The United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts Rachael Rollins filed opposition to the defendant's motion, claiming that Correia believes that the rules do not apply to him. Rollins went on to say that Correia has "no physical ailments that put him at any greater risk in prison for COVID-19."
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Correia was set to be held in the Federal Correctional Institution Berlin in Berlin, New Hampshire after being convicted of 21 counts of wire fraud, tax fraud, extortion and extortion conspiracy charges.
Correia's motion detailed that the defendant, if permitted by the court, would work in his family's small business before serving time. According to the motion Correia has been working in his family's business since his arrest in 2018.
WBZ's Tim Dunn (@ConsiderMeDunn) reports.
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