Foreign-Born Massachusetts Mayor Who Can’t Speak English Arrested For COVID Fraud

A foreign-born Massachusetts mayor was arrested Friday for stealing COVID relief funds to fund his campaign and pay off personal debt. 

Read more WATCH: America’s Most Cringe Mayor Jacob Frey Busts Out New Dance Moves

The FBI arrested Lawrence Democratic Mayor Brian DePena, 61, for allegedly funneling $1.5 million in COVID funds to fund his campaign, pay taxes, and pay down $880,000 on various property mortgages. DePena, who went viral last year for struggling to speak English, was charged with wire fraud and money laundering. 

“Mayor DePena was elected to be a leader for the City of Lawrence. He was looked up to and trusted by his constituents, but he betrayed that trust through his alleged corruption and lies,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “Today’s arrest is just another example of our determination to root out fraud by anyone, even public officials and holding elected officials accountable.”

DePena, born in the Dominican Republic, was first elected mayor of Lawrence, a city about 25 miles north of Boston, in 2021, running on a platform of “integrity” and “citizen-centered” government. He was re-elected in 2025. 

Court documents say that DePena used Economic Injury Disaster Loans offered by the government and obtained by his business, Tenares Tire Services, as a fund for personal monetary benefit. 

From one round of $350,000 in loans deposited into his business account, DePena used $85,000 to pay off personal tax debts and moved $120,000 into a personal account, investigators say. DePena then wrote a number of checks totaling $90,000 to “The Committee to Elect Brian DePena,” according to court documents. Before the influx of cash, the account sat at just over $20. 

Another round of loans was approved by the Small Business Administration in October 2021, and $1,154,188 was placed in the Tenares Tire Services account. Those dollars were transferred into DePena’s personal bank account, which held only $1,401, the same day they were received, the Justice Department said. 

Of the new funds, another $42,000 went to his mayoral campaign, and $883,293 was used to pay off debts on properties owned in Lawrence, prosecutors alleged. 

Read more Foreign-Born Massachusetts Mayor Who Can’t Speak English Arrested For COVID Fraud

If convicted, DePena could be sentenced to over 20 years in prison and subject to hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines. 

Despite living in the United States for decades and being elected to public office, DePena told one local outlet in March 2022 that he was still learning English. 

“I practice my English because it’s very important in America,” he said. “For many years, another administration speaks perfect English and [didn’t provide] opportunity for better education, for businessmen, for kids, safety [in the] community.”

In videos posted by the city, DePena often speaks Spanish. The population of the city is about 83% Hispanic. 

During an unrelated court appearance last year, DePena made headlines after requesting a translator. That appearance revolved around the mayor’s efforts to shield the acting chief of police during an investigation. 

DePena does not yet have a lawyer, and The Daily Wire reached out to the mayor’s office for comment.

Read more Luigi Mangione Lays Out Chilling Step By Step Plot To Kill Brian Thompson