Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia is expected back in court this month to face a 13 count federal indictment that includes wire fraud and filing false tax returns in connection with his now defunct business SnoOwl. The new date has been scheduled for December 18th, although the court notice states: “If the parties do not believe an initial status conference is necessary they should request in the joint memorandum that the hearing be cancelled.”
Correia was due to appear for a status hearing in U.S. District court in Boston December 6th, but at the last minute U.S. Magistrate Judge M. Page Kelly recused herself, and that hearing was cancelled. Reportedly, Judge Kelly did not give a reason for removing herself from Correia’s case, nor does she, or any judge, have to under federal law.
Correia has pleaded not guilty to 9 counts of wire fraud and 4 counts of filing false tax returns. He is free on an unsecured $10,000 Bond under which he was forced to give up his Passport. Following his arrest back in October Correia held a press conference where he declared he would not resign as mayor despite the federal indictment lodged against him calling the charges “bogus.”
Meanwhile, the Board of Elections Office is in the process of certifying signatures submitted from a group of taxpayers who want a recall election held to remove Correia from office. Board of Election Chairperson Kelly-Souza young told FRC Media News she is working on the certification of nearly 6 thousand names and addresses, and once the verification process is finished, hopefull by next week, they will be sent to the city clerk’s office after which an announcement on whether a recall election will be held or not will come from City Clerk Alison Bouchard.
Slider Photo: Taken at a press conference at One Government Center following Correia’s arrest in October.
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