Jasiel Correia II, the mayor of Fall River, Massachusetts, has been arrested on federal extortion charges.
Prosecutors allege that the mayor was operating a scheme to help marijuana vendors get approval to operate in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes.
According to the prosecutors, Correia agreed to sign non-opposition letters in return for significant six-figure payments from four marijuana vendors looking to open businesses in the city.
The letters are required to obtain a license to operate a marijuana business in the state.
The Mayor pleaded not guilty.