Mayor Correia Seen Gambling at Vegas Casino Pool
FALL RIVER — What happens in Vegas doesn't always stay there.
Unbeknownst to many city officials, Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia was recently on vacation in Las Vegas. The Herald News obtained a photo from a Fall River resident staying at Caesar's Palace over the weekend. The photo appears to show Correia playing blackjack while poolside at the casino.
City officials, including City Councilor Cliff Ponte, were unaware that Mayor Correia, who is under federal indictment for tax and wire fraud, had left the state for nearly a week.
Correia was back in his office Tuesday.
While Correia's absence did not require a temporary replacement, Ponte says it is a best practice to notify city officials if the mayor leaves town. The City Charter only requires a temporary replacement if the mayor is unable to perform his duties during his absence.
Correia's bail conditions require him to notify authorities of out-of-state trips. However, an official with the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office did not disclose to the Herald News if Correia notified them of his vacation.
During an October press conference, U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Andrew Lelling alleged that Correia had used investor funds meant for his app company to fund a lavish lifestyle that included vacations, luxury cars, jewelry, designer clothes, student loan payments, political campaign financing, and adult entertainment.