A former Massachusetts mayor, once a rising Democratic star after being elected at just 23 years old, was sentenced to six years in prison on Tuesday after being convicted of extorting hundreds of thousands of dollars from cannabis businesses that wanted to operate in his city.
Former Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia showed no emotion as the judge handed down his punishment after tossing several convictions stemming from allegations that the now 29-year-old swindled investors who backed a smartphone app he created.
U.S. District Judge Douglas Woodlock assailed Correia’s actions as old-style corruption that eviscerates a community. Under Correia’s watch, ”City Hall was for sale,” said the judge, who also criticized his “absolute lack of remorse.”
“If we can’t trust each other if we can’t trust our government, where are we?” the judge asked. Correia, who has insisted that he’s innocent and that the “real truth” will eventually come out, did not make a statement during the hearing in Boston federal court because he’s still challenging his remaining convictions.
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