FALL RIVER Testimony is finally over in the long-awaited trial of former Mayor Jasiel Correia II, and while the jury still has yet to weigh the evidence, there were more situations revealed last week that have us scratching our heads again.
What about all the people who loved Jasiel Correia?
On the stand, co-conspirator Hildegar Camara testified that he considered Correia to be like a son, and that after meeting him while he was in high school with his daughter, over the years he tried to mentor him.
Joe Macy testified that another of the co-conspirators, Gen Andrade, who ran Correia s political campaigns and even worked as his chief of staff, used to drive him around and feed him. Defense attorney Kevin Reddington described her as mothering Correia. Sure sounds like she loved him.
BOSTON The prosecution and defense rested in the 24-count federal fraud, extortion and bribery case of Jasiel Correia II on Thursday. Now the fate of the former Fall River mayor will be in the hands of a 14-member jury on Monday after closing arguments from both sides.
Correia, 29, did not take the stand, and defense attorney Kevin Reddington only called three witnesses.
Jonathan Carreiro, a Swansea technical project manager, said Correia came to him for his expertise to update the SnoOwl app. SnoOwl investors had previously testified that Correia wasn t doing much to develop the app.
Sarah Hartry, deputy general counsel for Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance, testified that her office confirmed Correia had no knowledge of the campaign finance violation of Matthew Pichette s wife, Dina. Pichette had testified Wednesday that David Hebert instructed him to pay his bribe by having 25 friends and relatives donate $1,000 each to Correia s campaign.
BOSTON The corruption and fraud trial against Jasiel Correia II continued Tuesday, with a focus on allegations that the former Fall River mayor extorted hundreds of thousands of dollars from marjiuana companies. The day was capped by stunning testimony from Hildegar Camara, one of four alleged co-conspirators.
Camara, who said he considered Correia to be like a son, has pleaded guilty to two counts of extortion, two counts of extortion conspiracy, and two counts of making false statements to federal prosecutors twice, on June 17 and 24, in relation to helping Correia solicit bribes from marijuana companies seeking local approval to set up shop in Fall River.