A mayor from a Boston suburb is in trouble for using over $1.5 million in pandemic loans for his campaign and personal debts. He is charged with wire fraud and money laundering.

Lawrence Mayor Brian DePena, 61, was arrested on Friday. He is accused of misusing Economic Injury Disaster Loans, which are meant to help struggling businesses during the pandemic.

DePena became mayor in 2021 and was re-elected in 2025. Before that, he was on the Lawrence City Council from 2016 to 2021.

The US Attorney said DePena broke the trust of his people. He lied and was corrupt. The arrest shows that the government is serious about stopping fraud, even by public officials.

A disgraced official was caught committing fraud.

Lawrence Mayor Brian DePena is in trouble for using pandemic relief money for his campaign and debts. He applied for the funds to help his tire shop, Tenares Tire Services Inc.

In 2020, DePena asked for an EIDL loan for his business. The loan had a 3.75% interest rate and was meant to help with pandemic-related financial struggles.

The SBA first approved a $150,000 loan for Tenares Tire. Later, DePena asked for more money and got a $350,000 modification. Then, he got another loan modification that brought the total to $1.1 million.

After the second loan modification, DePena couldn't access the money for a month, which caused him to panic.

DePena sent a text message to a financial advisor, saying he was in trouble and needed help. He asked the advisor to call him.

DePena told the advisor that he had no other option and was counting on him.

There is another case of alleged fraud.

When DePena got the money, he started using it for personal things. He transferred nearly $90,000 to his personal accounts and wrote checks to his campaign.

DePena used the money to pay off his personal debts, including back taxes and mortgages on his properties.

A special agent said that pandemic relief money was meant to help small businesses, not personal debts or campaigns. The agent is committed to protecting taxpayer money.

DePena has only made 16 payments on the loan, totaling $130,160. The outstanding loan balance is still around $1.65 million.

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DePena will appear in court and could face up to 30 years in prison.

The mayor's office did not comment on the situation.

Louis Casiano is a reporter for Fox News Digital. You can send him story tips.