Three Correia Associates Plead Guilty in Extortion Investigation
Three associates of Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia have now agreed to plead guilty in connection with the federal government's extortion investigation.
The Herald News reports Hildegar Camara, David Hebert, and Antonio Costa accepted plea agreements offered by federal prosecutors, pleading guilty to conspiring to commit extortion, aiding and abetting extortion and making false statements to investigators.
Prosecutors say all three conspired with the Mayor to obtain money and property from marijuana vendors, looking to open shops in Fall River, in exchange for letters of support from the Mayor.
According to court documents, Costa was ordered to forfeit between $72,000 and $95,000 he obtained in the commission of the crimes. Hebert was ordered to forfeit $61,000.