Mass. Rep. Paulino Arrested on Federal Fraud Charges

Massachusetts State Representative Francisco Paulino was arrested Wednesday morning, August 26, 2026, following a federal grand jury indictment on 11 counts related to an alleged scheme to fraudulently obtain over $700,000 in taxpayer-funded COVID-19 relief money. The Democrat, who represents the 16th Essex District including Lawrence and Methuen, pleaded not guilty to all charges during an arraignment in federal court in Boston that afternoon. The indictment, unsealed Tuesday, August 25, charges Paulino with eight counts of aiding and abetting wire fraud and three counts of aiding and abetting money laundering.