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Ex-Aide To Former Fall River Mayor Pleads Guilty In Public Corruption Case

The ex-chief of staff to a former Massachusetts mayor has pleaded guilty in a federal public corruption case.

Genoveva Andrade, 49, changed her plea to guilty on Monday, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's office, during a court hearing conducted remotely in the case against former Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia II. She agreed to plead guilty to two counts of extortion conspiracy, two counts of extortion, one count of bribery and one count of false statements.

U.S. District Judge Douglas Woodlock said he’d take the agreement under consideration. Andrade, 49, will be sentenced April 7.

Correia's trial had been slated to start in February, but has been pushed back several times because of the pandemic.

Prosecutors allege Correia extorted $600,000 from marijuana vendors seeking to do business in the city, and bilked nearly $300,000 from investors in his smartphone app company.

Andrade is facing six counts for allegedly aiding Correia in the marijuana scheme. Prosecutors say Andrade also agreed to give Correia half her salary in order to receive and then retain her job.

Both had repeatedly denied the allegations, saying they were politically motivated.

With reporting by The Associated Press and WBUR's newsroom.

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