FBI agents arrested a Boston Democratic Party official on federal corruption charges Friday morning in connection with an alleged “kickback scheme” that stole thousands of taxpayer dollars from his own constituents.
Tania Fernandez Anderson, who is serving her second term as Boston’s 7th District City Council member, was charged with one count of theft and five counts of wire fraud related to programs that receive federal funds. According to in response to a Justice Department indictment that was unsealed Friday.
Prosecutors say Fernandez-Anderson faced financial difficulties last year after the state Ethics Commission decided to fine him $5,000 for violating conflict of interest laws, and conspired with unnamed relatives of staff members to take bonus kickbacks. He claims he defrauded the city of Boston with the scheme. Fernandez-Anderson allegedly paid her relatives $13,000 in bonuses, more than double the bonuses given to all of her other staffers combined, at City Hall in June. During a secret exchange in a bathroom, he allegedly disclosed $7,000 in cash to Fernandez-Anderson. Sept. 9, 2023, according to the Department of Justice indictment. (Related: D.C. City Council member who claimed Jews controlled the weather is accused of bribery)
Tania Fernandez Anderson, a woke BLM Muslim and former illegal immigrant Democrat who serves on the Boston City Council, was arrested by the FBI and charged with five counts of aiding and abetting wire fraud and one count of aiding and abetting program theft. Ta. pic.twitter.com/GxvA2jKgXj
— Andy Ngo 🏳️🌈 (@MrAndyNgo) December 6, 2024
“Using public office for personal gain is a crime. As alleged in today’s indictment, her actions violate the city’s natural right to expect that its funds will be managed with integrity. “This is a slap in the face to Boston’s hardworking taxpayers,” said Jody Cohen, special agent in charge of the case. Published by the Boston Bureau of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. press release Following the arrest of Fernandez Anderson. “This case demonstrates how hard the FBI and our partners work every day to combat public corruption and the corrosive damage it causes to people’s trust in government.”
Each wire fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and the “theft with respect to programs receiving federal funds” charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, according to the press release.
Fernandez Anderson is Moved He immigrated to the United States with his family as an illegal immigrant from the African country of Cape Verde when he was 10 years old, and was often controversial while serving on the Boston City Council. Less than two weeks after Hamas’ invasion of Israel on October 7, 2023, she compared Israeli soldiers turned into “political animals”
“What do I have to do on this council to be respected as a black woman?” Fernandez Anderson shouted During a parliamentary meeting in August 2022 amidst violent abuse that went viral on social media.
Democratic Boston Mayor Michelle Wu called Fernandez Anderson is resigning after being indicted by the Department of Justice.
“Like any other member of the community, Rep. Fernandez Anderson is entitled to a fair legal process,” Wu said in a statement. “However, the serious nature of these charges undermines public confidence and will prevent her from effectively serving the city.”
Fernandez Anderson previously fined The Massachusetts Ethics Commission announced in 2023 following the agency’s findings that a Boston City Council member violated conflict of interest laws by hiring his sister as his office’s director of voter services and her son as his office manager. It was conducted by the Massachusetts Ethics Commission between March and May 2017.
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