State Rep. Francisco Paulino arrested, appears in court on wire fraud, money laundering charges
- On Wednesday, federal agents arrested Massachusetts State Rep. Francisco Paulino of the 16th Essex District on an 11-count indictment alleging he fraudulently obtained pandemic relief funds and funneled them into personal accounts.
- Prosecutors allege Paulino used his business, Madison Tax, from April 2020 through December 2021 to execute the scheme, routing COVID-19 relief funds through others' identities into his personal and business bank accounts.
- The indictment details a $44,160 fraudulent unemployment claim filed in a relative's name, an unauthorized $200,000 EIDL modification, and $18,000 moved toward a Lawrence real estate purchase.
- U.S. Attorney Leah Foley scheduled an 11 a.m. press conference at the Moakley Courthouse in Boston on Wednesday, with the FBI and IRS, to announce charges against Paulino and Lawrence Mayor Brian DePena.
- This arrest makes Paulino the second Merrimack Valley public official facing pandemic fraud charges this month, following authorities' recent unsealing of a separate indictment against DePena on similar allegations.
45 Articles
45 Articles
Democratic Officials Charged in Alleged COVID Relief Funds Fraud Scheme
Internewscast Journal Internewscast A Massachusetts Democratic official was arrested Wednesday on allegations of COVID-19 relief… This Post: Democratic Officials Charged in Alleged COVID Relief Funds Fraud Scheme first appeared on Internewscast Journal
Rep. Paulino pleads not guilty, due back in court October 7
METHUEN REP. FRANCISCO PAULINO was arraigned in federal court Wednesday afternoon, where he pleaded not guilty to all 11 counts brought against him for pandemic benefit fraud. Paulino faces eight counts of wire fraud and three counts of unlawful monetary transactions. He was indicted Tuesday by a grand jury, arrested Wednesday morning in Lawrence, and arraigned Wednesday afternoon at Moakley Courthouse in Boston. A federal public defender stood …
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 54% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
