FALL RIVER, MA (WBZ-AM) -- Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia says he's not going anywhere despite pressure for him to step down amid Federal wire fraud and tax evasion charges.
Speaking before a room full of supporters and reporters Correia defended himself charges saying the they are 100-percent false and that the entire investigation has been politically motivated.
Correia said he came out of federal court last week smiling, not because he's arrogant, but because he was feeling nervous & intimidated.
"And I will fight it and I will allow the truth to come out and I think there's going to be a lot of people that will be embarrassed. A lot of local people that will be embarrassed," he said.
After giving a half hour slide presentation about why he's innocent, Correia said he wouldn't resign.
"and I will not resign,"
Fall River Mayor Arrested On Fraud Charges
The mayor of Fall River has been arrested on fraud charges, accused of systematically looting funds to the tune of roughly a quarter million dollars.
He also did not answer a single question from reporters.
A Fall River Herald News reporter tried unsuccessfully to get him to answer one of her questions about the charges when Correia kept repeating 'excuse me' several times and then saying
"let me please continue please, excuse me," he said.
Correira, became the the youngest mayor in the city's history when he was elected in 2015.
The charges stems from 2014 when Correia, now 26, was accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars investors, approximately $300,000 dollars put into his company, SnoOwl, and using the money to pay for what investigators describe as his "lavish" lifestyle and political ambitions.
U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling released Correira's indictment, which alleges Correira used the cash to buy a Mercedes, and spent tens of thousands of dollars on airfare, luxury hotels, casinos, and adult entertainment.
The indictment also says Correira allegedly filed false tax returns in 2013 and 2014, then apparently amended them in 2017 after finding out he was under federal investigation.
The Fall River City Council is planning to meet Tuesday night on whether not they can issue a vote of non-confidence and remove the Correira from office.
WBZ NewsRadio1030's Kim Tunnicliffe (@KimWBZ) reports.