Correia self-reports to federal prison to begin six year sentence

FALL RIVER, Mass. (WLNE) — The former Fall River mayor convicted of fraud and corruption has self-reported to prison.

Jasiel Correia reported to FCI Berlin, a medium security prison, just before 12:30 p.m. Friday where he will begin his six year sentence.

The former mayor was convicted in May of last year of 21 counts for defrauding investors through his “SnoOwl” app and extorting money from marijuana companies. A judge tossed out 10 of the counts.

Correia’s original prison date had been set for Dec. 3 before being pushed off several times by a judge.

Attorneys for the former Fall River mayor requested an extension that would allow him to stay out of prison while they appeal his sentence. A federal appellate court refused his request for another delay on Wednesday.

Correia was officially sworn in as Fall River’s youngest mayor, at only 23-years-old, in January 2016.

When elected mayor, Correia said his top priority was to “shed the perception that has been unfairly cast over Fall River for decades.”

“This is no way any politician should ask or anybody that the public asks to trust them. People have to carry themselves with a certain sense of honesty and grace and integrity, and that was not happening here,” current Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan told ABC 6 News.