Former Fall River Mayor’s Co-Conspirator Avoids Prison
FALL RIVER — A co-conspirator of recently convicted former Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia was sentenced Wednesday in federal court in Boston for extortion.
The U.S. Attorney's Office announced that city resident Hildegar Camara, 60, got three years of probation including a year and a half of house arrest and 150 hours of community service for his role in helping Correia extort local marijuana vendors.
Camara lied to federal agents about assisting Correia obtain money and property from the vendors in return for documents needed for host community agreements with the city.
He testified during Correia's corruption trial earlier this year.
In September 2019, Camara pleaded guilty to multiple counts of extortion conspiracy, extortion, and making false statements.
Camara conspired with the former mayor and others to gain cash bribes and other payments from cannabis vendors in exchange for non-opposition letters for community host agreements.
He facilitated the bribe payments to Correia.
On May 14, Correia was convicted of multiple counts of wire fraud, filing false tax returns, extortion, and extortion conspiracy.
He is set to be sentenced on Sept. 20.