Boston City Councilwoman Tania Fernandes Anderson was dealing with monetary troubles when she employed a relative onto her employees and “hatched a plan to funnel taxpayer cash into his pockets,” federal investigators allege.
Fernandes Anderson was arrested Friday morning at her Dorchester residence on federal public corruption expenses, in response to the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI in Boston.
Fernandes Anderson, who represents Roxbury, Dorchester and elements of the South End, is charged with 5 counts of wire fraud and one depend of theft involving applications that obtain federal funds, in response to an 11-page federal indictment.
The indictment alleges that Fernandes Anderson launched a kickback scheme by hiring somebody associated to her in late 2022. It additionally alleges that she falsely represented to town that she and the employees member weren’t associated.
As a part of the scheme, Fernandes Anderson allegedly agreed to pay the employees member a $13,000 bonus on the situation {that a} portion of it’s returned to her. U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy mentioned the bonus was greater than double what the remainder of his employees earned in mixed bonuses.
Fernandes Anderson accepted $7,000 in a money bribe pick-up from that staffer throughout a gathering in a rest room in Boston City Hall on June 9, 2023, textual content messages obtained by investigators confirmed.
At the time of receiving the fee, Fernandes Anderson was dealing with monetary issues, together with lacking lease and automotive funds and paying financial institution overdraft charges that resulted in low every day balances, in response to prosecutors. She had been too slapped with a fine by the Ethics Commission.
“SM. Fernandes Anderson was dealing with monetary difficulties in 2023,” Levy mentioned. “Around the identical time, in 2023, Ms. Fernandes Anderson, the grand jury alleges, hatched this scheme to funnel bonus funds, the taxpayers’ cash, in his pockets.”
Levy added, “All that cash was funded by the taxpayers of town of Boston.”
Stephen Kelleher, assistant particular agent answerable for the Boston FBI, known as Fernandes Anderson’s alleged actions “a state of affairs of her personal making.”
Charge of Tania Fernandes Anderson 12-6-24 Of Fox Boston Staff on Scribd
Born in Cape Verde, Fernandes Anderson was elected to the Boston City Council on November 2, 2021, in response to metropolis biographical info website. He received re-election in November 2023. His present time period as councilor is anticipated to final till January 2026.
Fernandes Anderson, who earned a wage of roughly $103,500 in 2022 and 2023, isn’t any stranger to controversy whereas serving on the Boston City Council.
In 2023, Fernandes Anderson agreed to pay a $5,000 civil penalty admitting that he violated conflict of interest laws by hiring his sister and son for paid positions on the Boston City Council staffstate officers mentioned.
“Faced with monetary hardship and a $5,000 advantageous from the State Ethics Commission, Ms. Fernandes Anderson selected to violate her fiduciary obligation and defraud town of Boston, the indictment alleges, reasonably than discover a authorized means to settle that debt,” Levy mentioned. .
Immediately following her November 2021 election to the Boston City Council, Fernandes Anderson appointed her sister because the full-time director of constituent companies, per the disposition settlement.
Fernandes Anderson initially set his sister’s annual wage at $65,000. In June 2022, he elevated it to $70,000 and awarded his sister a $7,000 bonus, in response to the disposition settlement.
Additionally, in June 2022, Fernandes Anderson named his son a full-time workplace supervisor at an annual wage of $52,000. 11 days later, her son’s wage elevated to $70,000.
Fernandes Anderson ended his relationship together with his sister and son on August 31, 2022.
Earlier this week, Fernandes Anderson commented publicly After news broke that he was under federal investigationhowever didn’t straight deal with the allegations.
“To all my individuals, District 7 voters, on yesterday’s information. You know that I’m at all times clear with you and that I’m at all times out there,” Fernandes Anderson mentioned in his assertion.
He added: “My job is to indicate up and combat for you. And I’ll proceed to just do that; individuals’s work. Unfortunately I can’t touch upon this matter for the time being. As quickly as I can, I’ll be sure you share it with you. “Earlier this week, Fernandes Anderson commented publicly afterwards news broke that he was under federal investigationhowever didn’t straight deal with the allegations.
It is unclear whether or not Fernandes Anderson will retain his place on the City Council sooner or later.
She is anticipated to be arraigned in federal court docket at 3 p.m
This is a growing story. Check again for updates as extra info turns into out there.
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