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FALL RIVER – Mayor Jasiel F. Correia II, facing federal charges and an eviction notice, announced on Tuesday that he would not step down and intended to reinstate himself. oppose any attempt by the municipal council to dismiss him.
"It's America and I'm presumed innocent until proven guilty," Correia, 26, said in a defiant speech at the town hall, where supporters and staff applauded and scandalized the press. tried to ask questions. "I will not let political foes remove me from office for their own selfish purposes."
Correia was arrested Thursday morning and accused of stealing more than $ 231,000 from investors in SnoOwl, the app that he launched to connect businesses and consumers. Federal prosecutors said they used the money for expensive trips, a Mercedes-Benz sedan, casinos and adult entertainment.
He is also accused of filing fraudulent tax returns to conceal the alleged ploy. Prosecutors allege that Correia allegedly stole about 64 percent of the $ 363,690 that the seven SnoOwl investors brought in and spent before being sworn in at City Hall in 2016.
He pleaded not guilty to nine counts of wire fraud and four counts of false tax filing.
The Bristol County Sheriff's Office added Monday to Correia that an eviction notice had been served at his apartment.
The city council, meanwhile, must debate his fate Tuesday night.
Correia, a Democrat, spent most of his speech criticizing US Attorney Andrew Lelling's statement last week that SnoOwl was in the "prototype phase." Correia even showed a video clip of Lelling making this statement.
But the mayor said that SnoOwl was not a prototype, but a fully functional app.
To put his point of view, he unveiled a PowerPoint presentation with photos of the official launch of the application in 2015 and Google Analytics indicating the number of users of this application in recent years (about 3,200). He also asked by a show of hands how many people had downloaded SnoOwl and he seemed delighted that a lot of hands had risen from his supporters, his staff and even a reporter.
"The app has arrived on the App Store and was a real consumer product," said Correia.
S addressing his supporters, he said, "Talk about this application to people. Show them your support. Join me because the road will be long and difficult, but the truth will prevail. "
Lelling's office declined to comment on Tuesday. But in his remarks last week, calling SnoOwl a "prototype", he also said: "It's important to note that there is a real product created by SnoOwl.There was a prototype for an application.That actually worked .
Correia denounced the charges against him, described as "political assaults" by an investor whose son, he said, wanted a job at the city hall. "I will not resign," he said, although Governor Charlie Baker urged Correia to step down while his case was pending.
"I'm going to fight, and I'll let the truth spread, and I think a lot of people are going to be embarrassed, a lot of people in the area will be embarrassed," Correia said as supporters and staff cheered. and shouted, "Bring it!"
The only way for him to leave office, he said, is if there is a recall election. He stated that it would be neither legal nor legitimate for the council to attempt to dismiss him.
When the press tried to ask questions, his supporters heckled and shouted "False news!" And "listen to the mayor!"
Cheryl Costa, a retired 66-year-old home health aide, was among the supporters who ran for the speech. She said that Correia was "the best mayor that Fall River ever had, and I am an old lady and I have seen a lot of mayors."
"I will support him until the end," said Costa.
Nelson Vasquez, a 30-year-old security guard, also came to the town hall to show his support for Correia. He was impressed by the fact that Correia prepared a five-page statement, but instead decided to launch it and "speak with the heart".
"He tore it up and spoke with the heart of what he believes," Vasquez said, adding that Correia had recruited more police and repaved streets. "I hope that he will not resign because of the progress we have made in this city."
You can contact Michael Levenson at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @mlevenson.
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