Former Massachusetts Mayor Sentenced to 6 Years Imprisonment for Cannabis Extortion and Bribery

As the world awakens to the truth that cannabis is the future, some others are trying to topple the industry and the marijuana sector is fighting back! This case shows that the era of use by the cannabis industry is finally over.

A federal judge has sentenced Jasiel Correia, a 29-year-old former mayor of Fall River, Mass., To six years in prison. Correia has been convicted of blackmailing local cannabis entrepreneurs. His conviction was described by local residents as a “fall out of favor” for someone who was a prominent politician in the future. It is the sad story of a budding politician who could have become a leading voice in the cause of the marijuana industry.

The main facts of the story

So here are the facts:

• Douglas Woodlock, a Boston-based judge, found Correia guilty and sentenced him to a six-year prison term with a three-year supervised release. The spokeswoman for the US Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts, Christina Sterling, upheld the decision.

• Correia’s conviction was based on wire fraud and extortion and other charges related to his act of taking bribes from a potential Fall River cannabis deal. He was also accused of defrauding investors in an app called “SnoOwl”, which was founded before he was elected mayor.

• Judge Woodlock overturned numerous tax and remittance fraud-related convictions Monday on SnoOwl’s allegations after confirming prosecutors failed to prove the charges. However, he left the extortion convictions unchanged.

• Prosecutors had moved Judge Woodlock to sentence Correia to 11 years in prison for calling his corruption “raw” while accusing him of denying it. Correia pleaded not guilty and called for three years in prison with his lawyers. He said he had the potential to learn from this phase in his life.

• His lawyers declined to comment, but their disposition and Correia’s ridiculous plea for three years in prison indicate that he is guilty of the allegations.

The FBI’s verdict

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was heavily invested in the case, claiming that Correia is a compulsive liar who has shown no empathy or remorse for his actions. Nor did he express his regrets or apologize to his victims.

The FBI claimed the verdict was the perfect opportunity to hold him accountable. They claimed that, unfortunately, the situation contributed to the public’s lack of confidence in the government. The case also deeply hurt the residents of Fall River. The FBI’s allegation was made public through Joseph Bonavolonta, the FBI’s special investigation agent in Boston.

The opposite appeal

Correia’s lawyers said they offered a counter-argument to the verdict, insisting that the case “conjured up the legend of Icarus”. They referred to a figure in Greek mythology who is mainly known for not having survived the transition from boyhood to manhood.

The “Icarus Complex” describes someone who is so over-ambitious that his dreams cross his personality boundaries, which leads to a backlash. Correia’s lawyers described him as a high-speed flyer who had a “Hubristian loss of moral compass” and that the verdict should not be the end of it.

Crucial background to the story

The voters in Fall Rivers voted Correia mayor in 2015. At the time, a 23-year-old councilor, described as “energetic and optimistic”, was ready to run his home base. He also focused on economic development, trying to change the negative perceptions of Fall Rivers, a working class town.

However, in 2018 Correia was arrested for allegedly stealing money from investors in SnoOwl, an app that connects users with local businesses. The following year, he was charged by federal officials with negotiating bribes ranging from $ 75,000 to $ 250,000 in exchange for writing non-objection letters for numerous people trying to open cannabis dispensaries in the Rivers case.

The dispensaries were set up in accordance with Massachusetts state marijuana laws. Correia’s decision was a severe blow to the voters who had developed so much confidence in the young man. Of course, this was a deliberate move to siphon money off entrepreneurs in one of the most thriving sectors in America, even as states are taking definitive steps to legalize cannabis.

Shocking fact

To understand the details of this case and why it is such an asset to the marijuana community, we need to uncover some exciting facts. Former mayor Correia initially survived a recall after receiving his first federal lawsuits in early 2019.

In particular, that federal charge was due to an unusual procedural error that led most Fall River voters to recall Correia. In the elections, however, he won the seat back because he received more votes than other candidates.

Local radio station WBUR also reported that Correia was finally ousted in 2019 and stepped down in 2020. This came after he postponed his 2019 re-election campaign a few weeks before election day.

If a corrupt politician seems lucky enough to manipulate the system, it is only a matter of time before the person is fired from office for a serious crime. Many years ago people didn’t take cannabis seriously because it had a bad reputation. Still, the tide has changed today, which is why the world’s correia cannot survive the backlash after trying to ruin marijuana entrepreneurs.

Bottom line

The cannabis industry is starting to close and more and more people are interested in what the sector has to offer. As this awareness grows and people become interested in investing, they keep their eyes and ears on the lookout for people who want to risk their efforts.

Correia’s conviction is a significant win for the marijuana industry. It’s proof that no one can mess with and get away with cannabis enthusiasts. With such successes, future leaders would do well to act with the utmost integrity when dealing with cannabis business owners.

MORE ABOUT JASIEL CORREIA, READ THIS …

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