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Authorities arrested a Democratic Party official for alleged COVID fraud for the second time this month on Wednesday.
U.S. Attorney Leah Foley says police arrested Massachusetts State Rep. Francisco Paulino early Wednesday morning, charging him with 11 counts related to pandemic unemployment insurance fraud, pandemic loan fraud, and money laundering.
“According to the Paulino indictment, Mr. Paulino devised a scheme to obtain more than $700,000 in federal pandemic relief funds. It is alleged that Paulino used some of the money for his own personal use, including real estate expenses, loan payments and transfers to his campaign account,” Foley said.
“Other money he flipped around and lent to other individuals at higher interest rates than the pandemic loan rate,” she continued.
11 SUSPECTED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AMONG 15 ARRESTED IN $1.4M BENEFITS FRAUD CRACKDOWN IN MASSACHUSETTS, DOJ SAYS
Representative Francisco E. Paulino, Democrat – 16th Essex, as Gov. Maura Healey signs health care legislation on January 8. (Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)
The indictment says Paulino’s alleged fraud began in 2020 when he signed up for COVID relief funding on behalf of “an unwitting 77-year-old relative.”
Paulino’s arrest comes roughly a week after the FBI arrested Lawrence Mayor Brian DePeña on similar charges. A federal grand jury also handed down an 11-count indictment against DePeña with charges relating to pandemic loan fraud and money laundering.
The FBI says DePeña first began “diverting public funds” in 2020 when he was serving on the Lawrence city council. He was arrested earlier this month.
MINNESOTA FRAUD MASTERMIND GETS NEARLY 42 YEARS IN PRISON IN MASSIVE $250M ‘FEEDING OUR FUTURE’ SCHEME
Lawrence Mayor Brian DePena faces federal charges for allegedly using pandemic-relief funds meant to assist struggling business for his mayoral campaign and to pay off his personal debts. DePena applied for the funds to help Tenares Tire Services Inc., his tire shop in Lawrence, federal prosecutors said. (City of Lawrence)
“Everyone listening today knows how difficult it was for Americans during the pandemic,” Foley said. “The money these two individuals allegedly scammed was meant for hardworking Americans and struggling business owners, not for two greedy individuals who lied and stole for their own personal benefit.”
The logo of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is seen at the Los Angeles Federal Building after a news conference to provide an update on the investigation into a May 18, 2025, bombing at a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California, on June 4, 2025, in Los Angeles. (PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
“It is never a proud moment when we arrest a public official, but we will continue to do it until the message is received: No one is above the law, and no one gets a pass,” she added.
