News  Former Fall River mayor sentenced to six years in prison for extortion, fraud; ordered to pay more than $878,000, September 2021

Following several days of hearings, a federal court judge sentenced former Fall River Mayor Jasiel F. Correia II to six years in prison on 11 criminal charges, including extortion and wire fraud and ordered him to pay more than $878,000 in restitution and forfeiture.

Correia had been indicted in 2018 for defrauding investors in SnoOwl, a software application company he founded, for allegedly using a majority of investors’ money on vacations, entertainment and other personal expenses. A 2019 indictment leveled additional charges against the then-mayor, accusing him of extorting payments from people seeking approvals to open marijuana dispensaries in Fall River. The charges resulted from a joint investigation by federal agencies and the Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General.

Following a three-week trial, jurors convicted Correia on May 14, 2021, on 21 of 24 counts, including extortion, extortion conspiracy and wire fraud.

During the September sentencing hearings, U.S. District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock sentenced Correia to 72 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Woodlock dismissed guilty verdicts on 10 of the 21 counts, including several wire fraud and tax convictions. The judge also ordered Correia to forfeit $566,740 to the government and provide $311,340 in restitution to four individuals who invested in SnoOwl, the software application company Correia founded.

For more information, see the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s press release.