Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia II was arrested in his home this morning on charges of allegedly extorting marijuana vendors for cash, according to authorities.

The U.S. Attorney’s office announced the arrest via Twitter early Friday and a video of his arrest has surfaced from the Fall River Herald News. At today’s press conference it was announced Correia, 27, is charged with bribery; extortion conspiracy; extortion and aiding and abetting; wire fraud; and filing false tax returns.

Correia entered a plea of not guilty this afternoon in federal court. He was released on $250,000 bond and will be required to pay $25,000 of that amount by the end of the day Tuesday.

According to the indictment, Correia agreed to issue non-opposition letters to marijuana vendors, which are required in order to operate in Massachusetts, in return for cash bribes and other payments.

“The pay-to play activities alleged in the indictment, if they’re true, are unusual in how brazen they are,” U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling said. “If the indictment is correct, Mayor Correia apparently, without hesitation, was extorting marijuana vendor after marijuana vendor.”

The bribes alleged today ranged from approximately $100,000 to $250,000 in cash, campaign contributions and mortgage discharges — in return for non-opposition letters and host community agreements, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Marijuana was also exchanged for resale. It is alleged that Andrade and Correia met with marijuana vendors and discussed signing non-opposition letters in return for cash.

Correia’s former chief of staff, Genoveva Andrade, was also arrested this morning on extortion and bribery charges. She was taken into custody in Boston. She stepped down in January to run Correia’s March 2019 recall campaign.

@fallriver_ma Mayor Jasiel Correia addresses the media after being arraigned for allegedly extorting marijuana shops. pic.twitter.com/tZk6GEwFWK — Stefan Geller (@StefanGeller) September 6, 2019

Antonio Costa, 51, of Fall River; Hildegar Camara, 58, of Fall River; and David Hebert, 54, of Westport were charged separately with extortion conspiracy, extortion, and false statements in connection with subsequent false statements to federal agents about their roles in assisting Correia obtain money and property from marijuana vendors. Costa, Camara and Hebert will appear in court at a later date.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office added: “To date, Correia has issued at least 14 non-opposition letters for marijuana businesses to operate in Fall River, including two for his current girlfriend’s brother.”

The Massachusetts mayor, previously charged with stealing investor funds intended for his app company, is headed for trial in February. Correia’s Feb. 24 trial date was set in federal court in June. The 27-year-old Correia had announced days earlier he is seeking a third term.

Authorities say Correia spent more than $200,000 from investors and then filed fraudulent tax returns to cover the theft. Prosecutors say he used investor funds as his “personal ATM” to enjoy a lavish lifestyle and pay student loan debt.

Correia pleaded not guilty to wire and tax fraud charges last October and has maintained his innocence.

Defense attorney Kevin Reddington called his client “the robo-mayor” when asked how he’d handle running for office while preparing for trial.

Now he faces a whole new case.