LAWRENCE — The mayor’s top adviser first told city employees Brian DePena, who is under federal indictment, would be away for a few days.
Octavien Spanner, senior adviser, later issued a correction on Monday saying DePena remains in the city and “will continue to be engaged as his schedule permits, including traveling to and from Lawrence as necessary.”
“The administration will continue its work without interruption and will remain focused on advancing the Mayor’s vision and the priorities established for the City,” wrote Spanner in an email to city employees Monday.
DePena, 61, was arrested Friday morning and charged with obtaining over $1.5 million in COVID-19 small-business loans and using the proceeds to fund his campaign account and pay personal taxes.
DePena also used the money to pay off more than $880,000 in high-interest, hard-money mortgages that encumbered various properties he owned in Lawrence, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
The mayor is charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering.
DePena, after his court appearance Friday, was ordered to surrender his passport, not to travel outside of Massachusetts and not to apply for any kind of loan or financial assistance.
DePena regularly travels to his native country of the Dominican Republic and had plans to fly to the Caribbean country on Friday, authorities said.
He was elected as mayor of Lawrence in November 2021 and was reelected in November 2025. He previously served on the Lawrence City Council from 2016 until 2021.
DePena on Monday mornings regularly hosts a department heads meeting. That meeting was canceled Monday morning.
At the advice of his attorney, DePena has no immediate plans to publicly address the indictments, according to the spokesperson.
City councilors are expected to discuss DePena’s indictments at a meeting Tuesday. It was unclear if they would take any action, however.
Spanner did send an email to city employees and city councilors which addressed the situation and acknowledged news reports about the mayor’s arrest and charges. The email was entitled “Continuity of City Operations and Commitment to Public Service.”
“The matter involving the Mayor concerns allegations relating to his personal affairs and a privately held business. It is important to distinguish this personal matter from the ongoing business of the City of Lawrence. The City’s departments, programs, services, financial operations, contracts, and responsibilities continue to be carried out by the professional employees who serve our residents every day,” Spanner wrote.
In a section of the email called “Our Strength Is Our Team,” Spanner said the moment is a reminder of “something fundamental about municipal government: a city does not depend upon one individual.”
“It depends upon the strength, professionalism, dedication, and integrity of an entire team. We ask all employees to remain calm, focused, and committed to the important work entrusted to them. The Mayor expects every employee, without exception, to fulfill their responsibilities diligently, professionally, and to the highest standard possible. Please do not allow external events or speculation to interfere with your responsibilities to the residents of Lawrence. Our residents depend on us for continuity, professionalism, and quality service-and we must continue to deliver,” he wrote.
Follow staff reporter Jill Harmacinski on Twitter @EagleTribJill and Threads at jillyharma.