Former Massachusetts Mayor sentenced to six years in prison for marijuana corruption

By Jelena Martinovic

Former Massachusetts Mayor Jasiel Correia, once considered a rising star in the Democratic Party, was sentenced to six years in prison Tuesday after being convicted in May of fraud and extortion of hundreds of thousands of dollars related to local marijuana companies, among other things had been.

The 29-year-old ex-Mayor of Fall River showed no emotion when US District Judge Douglas Woodlock beat him up, saying that “City Hall was for sale” during his tenure.

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Judge Woodlock, reported MassLive, overturned Correia several convictions, accusing him of deceiving investors who sponsored a smartphone app called SnoOwl that he developed to help companies connect with consumers.

Prosecutors announced that Correia had spent nearly two-thirds of the amount he received from investors on his lavish lifestyle.

However, Correia insisted on his innocence, saying that was the reason he turned down a plea deal and that the process was politically motivated.

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“The judicial system has let us down,” Correia said after the judge pronounced the verdict.

According to ABC News, the defense had petitioned for three years, stressing that Correia had also done a lot of good for Fall River.

“None of the excuses what happened here, but I think it is necessary to have a more complete picture of the man and understand how someone derailed but still has hope of contributing to a future chapter of life,” said Correia’s lawyer, William Fick.

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and was republished with permission.