Fall River City Council: Jasiel Correia has 5 days to step down

FALL RIVER, Mass. — Fall River City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday night to send embattled Mayor Jasiel Correia a letter asking him to step down.

Correia was arrested by federal authorities on Oct. 11 and charged with more than a dozen counts of fraud and tax charges.

>> 'I've done nothing wrong': Fall River mayor arrested for defrauding investors

According to prosecutors, Correia misused $231,000 of the $363,000 he accepted from seven investors in the app company he founded in 2012, SnoOwl, while misleading them about the business.

Prosecutors say he used the money to purchase tens of thousands of dollars of luxury items, including jewelry for an ex-girlfriend, designer clothing and a Mercedes; to pay for personal travel and entertainment; to fund his political campaign; to pay down his student loan debt; and to make charitable donations in his own name.

The 27-year-old has denied the allegations.

He's facing federal fraud charges and pleaded not guilty to a 13-count indictment back in October.

As of Dec. 13, Fall River officials announced they certified more than 4,000 signatures to recall Correia.

In the past, however, Correia says he has no plans to step down.

"I want to just continue doing my job and being the great mayor that I believe I can continue to be," Correia said. "And with the people's support, I'll stay in office. So I don't get weary, I just wake up and try to do the best job I can."

>> Embattled Fall River mayor says he's '100% innocent'

If Correia refuses to step down and organizers move forward with their efforts, the city will hold a recall election.

Correia claims many of the signatures have been forged or duplicated and now wants the authenticity of the signatures to be proved.

Once the city clerk sends the letter requesting his resignation, Correia has five days to step down. With holidays and weekends, that gives him until Dec. 26.

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