Mayor Correia Intends to Keep Working Despite City Council Vote

FALL RIVER — The political drama continues in Fall River following last night’s City Council vote to temporarily relieve embattled Mayor Jasiel Correia from duty.

The City Council voted 8-1 to temporarily remove Correia from office Tuesday night after he was arrested by federal authorities for the second time in less than a year.

Mayor Corriea tells WBSM’s Barry Richard Wednesday morning that he doesn’t intend to honor that City Council vote, and plans to continue working as Mayor of Fall River.

“The vote is non-binding. I look forward to continuing to do my job as mayor,” Correia said.

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

It's the second time Correia has been federally charged. He was first arrested in October of 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. 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.

According to the City Council vote, Correia has until 5:00 p.m. Friday to hand in his keys to the mayor’s office and formally step down.