Massachusetts Mayor Charged With Pandemic Loan Fraud and Money Laundering
Inspector General Jeffrey S. Shapiro joined United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Tom Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston in announcing the arrest of Lawrence Mayor Brian Depena on wire fraud and money laundering charges.
Depena allegedly fraudulently obtained over $1.5 million in COVID small-business loans and used the proceeds to fund his campaign account, pay personal taxes, and pay off over $880,000 in mortgages on various properties he owned in Lawrence.
On Friday, August 14, 2026, Depena appeared in federal court in Boston before Judge Donald L. Cabell, who ordered him to surrender his passport, not travel outside of Massachusetts, and not apply for loans without court approval.
“These funds were allocated to provide a safety net for small businesses coping with the fall-out of a worldwide public health crisis. For an elected official to have allegedly defrauded this program for his own personal gain is an egregious breach of the public trust,” IG Shapiro said. “The case demonstrates our continued commitment, along with our federal law enforcement partners, to hold those who steal public funds accountable.”
For more information, please view the U.S. Attorney’s press release.
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