Massachusetts State Representative Francisco Paulino of Methuen is confronting charges in federal court after his detention for relief fund fraud. A federal indictment accuses Paulino of the improper use of COVID-19 funds. The state representative also faces charges of money laundering related to the relief program money.
Paulino was taken into custody after an indictment was returned on federal counts. The indictment against Representative Paulino outlines the unlawful use of COVID-19 relief funds and money laundering. He faces these federal charges for actions involving pandemic benefit fraud and relief money.