Correia Ousted from Office by Fall River City Council

FALL RIVER — The Fall River City Council has finally done what neither the federal government or a recall election has yet to do – remove twice-arrested Mayor Jasiel Correia from power.

The Fall River City Council voted 8-1 Tuesday night in favor of temporarily removing Correia from power under Article 3, Section 3-8 of the Home Rule Charter, which allows the council to replace the city’s chief executive “whenever, by reason of sickness or other cause, the mayor is unable to perform the duties of the office.” 

Council President Cliff Ponte, who brought forth the motion, will now serve as acting mayor. Councilor Steven Camara was the only dissenting vote.

Ponte first asked Correia to step down in a letter sent to the mayor on Monday, saying he would call for the council vote Tuesday night if the Correia did not do so. Correia instead suggested the council review all official mayoral actions.

The 27-year-old mayor was arrested Friday morning but returned to work at Fall River City Hall on Monday. The U.S. Attorney’s Office alleges that Correia extorted marijuana retailers looking to come into Fall River to operate out of a total of about $600,000, among other charges.

It was the second time Correia had been federally charged. He previously was arrested in October 2018 on a 13-count indictment, charging him with wire fraud and filing false tax returns in an alleged scheme to defraud investors in his app company, SnoOwl. He survived a recall election brought forth by citizens after that arrest. That case is still pending.

Correia has continued to deny all the charges against him. He will face off against several opponents in a primary election next week.

He has until 5 p.m. Friday to hand in his keys to the mayor’s office and formally step down from his position.