A Democratic mayor facing serious federal charges for allegedly treating pandemic relief funds like a personal slush fund was captured on video Friday smiling, waving, and offering what critics are calling a bizarre response to reporters, while his staff reportedly insisted he does not speak English.
Lawrence, Massachusetts, Mayor Brian DePeña, 61, was arrested by the FBI early Friday morning on charges of wire fraud and money laundering. Prosecutors say the second-term Democrat fraudulently obtained more than $1.5 million in Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) meant to keep small businesses afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic and then funneled the money into his political campaign, personal tax bills, and high-interest mortgages on properties he owned.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, DePeña applied for the loans through his Lawrence tire and automotive business, Tenares Tire Services Inc. Prosecutors allege that after receiving the funds, he transferred large sums to personal accounts, wrote checks totaling tens of thousands of dollars to his campaign committee, paid off IRS debts, and used more than $880,000 to settle real estate loans. “The FBI arrested Mayor Brian DePeña for allegedly cashing in on a public health crisis and blatantly defrauding a government program meant to keep businesses afloat during the pandemic,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley added that DePeña “betrayed that trust through his alleged corruption and lies.”
Video circulating widely online shows DePeña outside after his court appearance, grinning broadly, gesturing, and interacting with a crowd of reporters and cameras from local outlets including NBC Boston and others. Rather than a somber or defiant statement typical of public officials in such moments, the mayor appears upbeat and animated in the footage. When approached for comment about the charges, his staff reportedly told at least one reporter, “He doesn’t speak English.”
The language issue is not new for DePeña. The Dominican Republic-born mayor, who has lived in the United States for decades and was first elected in 2021 before winning re-election in 2025, has previously drawn national attention for struggling with English. In December 2025, he requested a Spanish translator during an official state hearing involving a political ally, sparking widespread criticism that an American mayor should be able to conduct official business in English.
DePeña has acknowledged in past interviews that English is not his first language and that he continues to practice it, while often conducting city business and public appearances primarily in Spanish in a city that is roughly 80-83% Hispanic.
DePeña was released after his initial appearance in federal court in Boston under conditions that include turning over his passport, remaining in Massachusetts, and not seeking new loans without court approval. He faces potential decades in prison if convicted.
The case has fueled sharp questions about accountability for taxpayer funds during the pandemic and the standards expected of elected officials in American cities. Federal investigators continue to build their case against the mayor, who remains in office for now as the legal process unfolds.
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