This is the story of Brian DePeña, accused of fraud and money laundering.

Brian DePeña, the mayor of Lawrence, has been accused of wire fraud and money laundering. The charges stem from the alleged misuse of small business loans intended for pandemic relief during the COVID-19 crisis.

DePeña's personal background includes emigrating to the United States in the 1980s. He initially arrived in Puerto Rico via a makeshift boat, known locally as a yola, before eventually moving onward to the mainland.