Former mayor Jasiel Correia’s chief of staff Gen Andrade pleads guilty for second time

Gen Andrade, former mayor Jasiel Correia’s chief of staff and campaign manager, has pleaded guilty for a second time.

After seeing her initial guilty plea be rejected by Judge Douglas Woodlock, according to Chris Villani of Law360, Andrade and the prosecution have agreed to a new deal with time served.

If accepted, Andrade would be sentenced to one year of probation and fined $10,000 for pleading guilty to making false statements.

Andrade’s previous plea left Woodlock with no discretion other than to say yes or no. This time, Woodlock can issue a harsher penalty if he so choses.

Andrade’s trial started in December of 2021, but was delayed until March 7 after a witness tested positive for COVID-19.

In December of 2020, an emotional Andrade changed her plea to guilty in a virtual hearing.

Andrade submitted the initial guilty plea agreed to by both sides where she would be sentenced to 12 months of supervised release and a fine, along with time served. The agreement also involved agreeing to testify for the prosecution in the case against Correia, however, Andrade was never called to testify.

In a June 2021 proceeding, Judge Woodlock went back and forth, at times forcefully, concerning there being a justified reason for him to take the plea.

Judge Woodlock took the recommendation under advisement, but did not accept the plea deal as he felt the citizens of Fall River did not receive a faithful employee in addition to her initially lying. Woodlock felt that a plea agreement should consist of jail time and felt the $10,000 fine was too low.

During the December 2020 hearing, Zach Hafer from the prosecution listed evidence in the case against Andrade which included bank statements and testimony that Andrade was giving Correia half of her salary almost immediately upon being hired as chief of staff, including a snow stipend that was granted to Andrade.

Evidence also included testimony that marijuana vendor Charles Saliby paid Correia $150,000 which was to be used for Correia’s legal fees in the SnoOwl case. Sailby was to receive a non-opposition letter for the payment in which Correa stated that no more letters would be issued.

Earlier this month, Jasiel Correia was issued a fifth extension concerning the date he is scheduled to report to prison.