Lawrence Mayor Brian DePena has been arrested and charged with wire fraud and money laundering, accused of misusing over $1.5 million in COVID-19 relief funds intended for his tire sales business, Tenares Tire Services Inc. Federal prosecutors allege that DePena diverted more than $880,000 to pay off high-interest mortgages on various properties and allocated $90,000 to his 2021 mayoral campaign. Additionally, he is accused of using the funds to settle personal tax debts. DePena, 61, who has served as mayor since 2021 and previously held a position on the Lawrence City Council, made his initial court appearance in Boston on Friday. He was released under conditions that include surrendering his passport and refraining from applying for new loans without court approval. If convicted, DePena faces up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud and up to 10 years for money laundering, with potential fines totaling $500,000.
This case is part of a broader pattern of public officials facing charges related to the misuse of pandemic relief funds. For instance, in May 2026, former New Hampshire state senator and Concord Casino owner Andy Sanborn agreed to plead guilty to federal charges for misusing over $250,000 in federal pandemic aid, including purchasing a Porsche for personal use. Similarly, in February 2026, a St. Louis contractor with close ties to former Mayor Tishaura Jones was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to federal wire fraud charges for improperly obtaining more than $1.7 million in pandemic relief funds. These cases underscore the ongoing efforts by federal authorities to address and prosecute fraudulent activities involving COVID-19 relief programs.