A third chief of staff of former Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correira on Monday pleaded guilty to charges of extortion, bribery, and making false statements in connection with Correia's scheme to extort cannabis business, Ganjapreneur reports.
Genoveva Andrade admitted to collaborating with Correia in his plans to extort $150,000 from a cannabis business in return for a letter of non-opposition. Such a letter of non-opposition from heads of local government is a requirement under Massachusetts law for companies to earn a cannabis industry license. According to the Justice Department, after the vendor agreed to pay Correia for the letter, Andrade said to him, “you’re family now.”
She also confessed to have plotted with Carriera to extort a Fall River-based business in exchange for official action and favorable assistance.
The two extortion charges each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.