Mass. Couple Fraudulently Collected More than $267K in Government Benefits, DA Says
- 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.
28 Articles
28 Articles
Massachusetts Democrat Rep Arrested for Pandemic Fraud, Second Local Official Charged in Weeks
Federal authorities arrested Massachusetts state Representative Francisco Paulino on Wednesday morning, charging the Democrat with pandemic relief fraud and money laundering totalling hundreds of thousands of dollars between April 2020 and December 2021, ahead of his arraignment in Boston. The lawmaker, who represents the 16th Essex District encompassing Lawrence and Methuen, is now the second local official in the region to face federal fraud c…
Two Massachusetts Democrats Charged in Separate COVID Relief Fraud Schemes - Real News Now
Two Democratic elected officials in Massachusetts are facing federal charges over separate alleged schemes involving COVID-era relief money, with prosecutors accusing them of diverting taxpayer funds intended to help struggling Americans and businesses during the pandemic. Massachusetts State Rep. Francisco Paulino was arrested Wednesday morning after a federal grand jury returned an 11-count indictment involving pandemic unemployment insurance …
Democratic pols charged with COVID fraud in Massachusetts
A member of the Massachusetts legislature was arrested Wednesday on charges of pandemic fraud, with federal prosecutors saying he stole more than $700,000 in unemployment and small business money and used it to buy real estate and fund his campaign.
'$700,000 taxpayer scam!': Mass. Rep. Paulino charged with pandemic benefit fraud, money laundering
Massachusetts State Rep. Francisco Paulino was arrested in Lawrence on Wednesday and charged with pandemic benefit fraud and money laundering. Federal prosecutors said Paulino, 46, fraudulently obtained more than $700,000 in COVID unemployment insurance benefits and small-business loans. He allegedly then used those funds to buy property and loan money to clients of his tax preparation and mortgage businesses before he was elected to the State H…
Democrat officials charged for allegedly scamming COVID relief funds – Democratic Accent
Authorities arrested a Democratic Party official for alleged COVID fraud for the second time this month on Wednesday. U.S. Attorney Leah Foley says police arrested Massachusetts State Rep. Francisco Paulino early Wednesday morning, charging him with 11 counts related to pandemic unemployment insurance fraud, pandemic loan fraud, and money laundering. “According to the Paulino indictment, Mr. Paulino devised a scheme to obtain more than $700,000 …
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