Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia arrested, faces fraud charges

By: News Staff

Email: news@abc6.com 

FALL RIVER. M.A. –  Mayor Jasiel Correia has been arrested and charged with fraud. 

The U.S. Attorney of the District of Massachusetts announced Thursday morning that Mayor Correia is being charged for defrauding investors and using the funds to pay for his campaign and his “lavish” lifestyle. 

According to court documents, Correia began seeking investors in 2013 for an app he created called “SnoOwl”. Investors were told that the app would connect them with consumers in their market but instead of investing in the business, Correia diverted funds to himself and neglected the growth of the company.

In total, Mayor Correia received $363,690 from seven investors and more than half of those funds Correia took for personal use, his political campaign, and other business ventures. 

Correia is also charged with filing false tax returns in 2013 and 2014. Court documents say Correia did not mention SnoOwl in his tax returns those years, and also failed to report the diverted investor funds and other income. 

This is a developing story. ABC6 will update with new information as it becomes available.  

©WLNE-TV / ABC6 2018