Methuen Democrat State Rep. Paulino indicted on federal fraud charges

By Colin A. Young

Rep. Francisco Paulino of Methuen was indicted and arrested Tuesday on federal charges alleging pandemic benefit fraud.

The second-term Democrat is accused of filing a pandemic unemployment benefits claim for an elderly relative without their knowledge, routing the funds to bank account held solely in his own name, and later submitting fabricated documents when the state Department of Unemployment Assistance inquired. He is also accused of fraudulently obtaining economic injury disaster loans for two of his businesses and also in the name of a person referred to as a client of Paulino’s.

The federal indictment, which prosecutors plan to detail further at an 11 a.m. press conference at the Moakley Courthouse in the Seaport, alleges that Paulino’s illegal conduct took place from roughly April 2020 through at least December 2021. That time frame includes the November 2021 election in which Paulino was elected to represent the 16th Essex District.

Paulino is the second sitting Democratic state representative to be indicted on federal charges this session. Rep. Chris Flanagan of Dennis was arrested and indicted in April 2025 on charges of wire fraud for allegedly leading a scheme to defraud a local trade association of tens of thousands of dollars allegedly used to fund Flanagan’s personal and political expenses.