(Kim Tunnicliffe/WBZ NewsRadio)
FALL RIVER, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — A judge has ruled that the Fall River City Council doesn't have the authority to remove the city's embattled mayor, who faces several federal corruption and fraud charges, from office.
The ruling means Mayor Jasiel Correia will stay on the job despite facing two federal indictments in the span of one year.
Bristol Superior Court Judge Raffi Yessayan ruled the council can't remove someone from office once they've been charged with a felony—the individual would have to be convicted.
The council voted last month to strip Correia of his duties, at least temporarily, and passed a motion for him to vacate his office.
Correia has so far refused to do so. He has continued to show up for work, and even survived a preliminary election to ensure his place on the ballot in November.
In October 2018, Correia was arrested on federal fraud charges, accused of defrauding investors in the development of his app, SnoOwl. In September 2019, he was arrested again for allegedly extorting marijuana businesses.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
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