MRCC

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Update on Fall River case

Prosecutors have asked a judge to release to state regulators the identities of five marijuana vendors interviewed as part of the extortion and bribery case against Fall River’s former mayor.

The motion filed in U.S. District Court in Boston asks that the interviews with the unidentified vendors, listed only as MJ Vendor #1 through #5, be released to the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC), which regulates and licenses marijuana businesses. The information is currently under a protective order by a judge.

The commission needs the information so that it can consider revoking or suspending any entities that may have been involved in illegal practices, according to the motion.

Prosecutors say at least four vendors were extorted for bribes of cash and marijuana by Correia, who allegedly told them it was only way he would give them the required “letter of non-opposition” for the CCC to let the business open.

A 5th unnamed marijuana vendor is also mentioned in the documents, because the vendor met with Correia’s then-chief of staff, Genoveva Andrade — who is also charged in the case — to complain about Vendor #4 receiving a letter of non-opposition. It was during that conversation that Andrade allegedly told the vendor that she had to give half her salary to Correia.

If the motion is approved by Judge Douglas Woodlock, interview reports with all five vendors would be provided to the CCC, but the identities of the vendors would not be made public without a further court order.