(FBI Boston) – The FBI Release States – The Mayor of Lawrence, Mass. was arrested and charged today with fraudulently obtaining over $1.5 million in COVID small-business loans and using the proceeds to fund his campaign account, pay personal taxes, and pay off over $880,000 in high-interest, hard-money mortgages that encumbered various properties he owned in Lawrence.
Brian Depena, 61, is charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. Depena will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston later today. Depena was elected as Mayor of Lawrence in November 2021 and was reelected in November 2025. He previously served on the Lawrence City Council from 2016 until 2021.
“Mayor DePena was elected to be a leader for the City of Lawrence. He was looked up to and trusted by his constituents, but he betrayed that trust through his alleged corruption and lies,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “Today’s arrest is just another example of our determination to root out fraud by anyone, even public officials and holding elected officials accountable.”
“Today’s arrest highlights IRS CI’s continued commitment to safeguarding emergency relief programs and holding accountable those who abuse them,” said Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office. “CARES Act funds were created to help small businesses survive an unprecedented national crisis — not to bankroll personal debts, political ambitions, or real estate ventures. IRS Criminal Investigation remains committed to protecting taxpayer dollars, pursuing those who exploit federal relief funds, and ensuring that financial integrity is upheld at every step.”
“Today, the FBI arrested Mayor Brian Depena for allegedly cashing in on a public health crisis and blatantly defrauding a government program meant to keep businesses afloat during the pandemic. It’s alleged the Mayor fraudulently obtained over $1.5 million in small business loans which he then used as his own slush fund to pay his personal taxes, fund his mayoral campaign, and pay off $883,000 in high-interest mortgages on several properties he owned. This was emergency financial assistance meant to be a safety net for struggling businesses, not Mr. Depena’s own personal ATM,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “When elected officials misuse federal funds for personal gain, they’re breaking the trust of their constituents – and breaking the law. Together, with our partners, the FBI will continue to doggedly pursue anyone who defrauds the federal government. You’ll be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and that ‘easy money’ won’t seem so easy after all.”
According to the charging documents, in 2020 and 2021, Depena applied for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDL”) for Tenares Tire Services Inc., a tire sales and automotive services business he owned in Lawrence. During COVID, the U.S. Small Business Administration offered taxpayer-funded EIDLs to eligible small businesses experiencing substantial financial disruptions due to the pandemic. The interest rate on EIDLs was 3.75%, and the loan use was limited. A business could only use EIDL proceeds as working capital to alleviate economic injury caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Working capital did not include funding a political campaign, paying personal taxes, or paying off mortgages.
🚨BREAKING: #FBI Boston & @IRS_CI special agents have arrested Mayor Brian DePena, of Lawrence, MA, for allegedly fraudulently obtaining over $1.5 million in #COVID19 @SBAgov loans, & using the proceeds to fund his campaign account, pay his personal taxes, & pay off $883,000 in… pic.twitter.com/lYUSIMPhSZ
— FBI Boston (@FBIBoston) August 14, 2026
🚨Special agents & officers on #FBI Boston's Child Exploitation – Human Trafficking Task Force have arrested Kristopher Ambrozewicz, a former youth soccer coach from Athol, MA, who works at behavioral health facility where he sees youth patients, for possessing child sexual… pic.twitter.com/m8xDzh1b1d
— FBI Boston (@FBIBoston) August 13, 2026
🔥#FBI Boston is turning up the heat, taking down an #FBI Western Massachusetts Gang Task Force investigation called Operation Pinky Promise – targeting violent criminal enterprises operating in Chicopee, Holyoke, and Springfield, Massachusetts.
The #FBI & our partners have… pic.twitter.com/iV1PAQZFDU
— FBI Boston (@FBIBoston) August 12, 2026
Hey @MassGovernor, any word on your buddy being indicted for COVID funding fraud?? https://t.co/IvR1PM9gSi pic.twitter.com/j6RMiaoGwB
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) August 14, 2026
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