Massachusetts Mayor Charged In Alleged $1,500,000 Pandemic-Era Loan Fraud And Money Laundering Scheme

August 14, 2026 4:15 PM ET The Democratic mayor of Lawrence, Mass. has been arrested and faces charges for allegedly fraudulently obtaining more than $1.5 million in pandemic-era small-business loans and misusing the money, the Department of Justice said Friday.Brian DePeña, 61, was charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering and is set to make an initial appearance in a Boston federal court on Friday, the DOJ said in a news release. DePeña used the funds from the pandemic relief loans to fund his campaign account, pay personal taxes, and pay off more than $880,000 in high-interest mortgages, the department alleges. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: DOJ Uncovers $350 Million In Alleged Fraud)“Mayor [DePeña] was elected to be a leader for the City of Lawrence. He was looked up