The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) special agents in Boston moved in fast and arrested City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson last 6 December on public corruption charges.
Fernandes Anderson was under investigation by federal authorities and FBI agents were seen outside her home in Dorchester this morning as she was taken into custody, according to WCVB. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is now calling on her to resign.
The Democrat lawmaker is facing five counts of wire fraud and one count of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, a court filing by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts says.
Federal prosecutors allege that in late 2022, Fernandes Anderson hired a staff member that was related to her and then defrauded the city by proposing an arrangement in which the person would receive "additional compensation but would kickback most of this bonus pay."
"From in or about early to mid-2023, Fernandes Anderson was facing personal financial difficulty, which included missing monthly rent and car payments, an impending $5,000 civil penalty from the Ethics Commission, and incurring bank overdraft fees, which resulted in Fernandes Anderson maintaining low daily bank balances," read the filing, which was obtained by the Boston Globe.
"On or about June 9, 2023, at approximately 4:11 p.m., Staff Member A texted Fernandes Anderson, "Bathroom" to let Fernandes Anderson know that Staff Member A was waiting in the bathroom to hand the US$ 7,000 cash to Fernandes Anderson," the court document continued. "Within seconds, Fernandes Anderson texted Staff Member A, "Ready" to confirm that Fernandes Anderson was ready to accept the US$ 7,000 cash kickback from Staff Member A.
"Shortly following these texts, Staff Member A handed Fernandes Anderson approximately US$ 7,000 in cash at a bathroom in City Hall."
The filing also says Boston City Councilors were not allowed to hire immediate family members to their paid staff, yet in 2022, Fernandes Anderson hired two such individuals. Prosecutors say Fernandes Anderson later fired those two employees and was informed by the Ethics Commission of a $5,000 fine relating to that incident.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said in a statement that "Like any member of the community, Councilor Fernandes Anderson has the right to a fair legal process."
"But the serious nature of these charges undermines the public trust and will prevent her from effectively serving the city. I urge Councilor Fernandes Anderson to resign," Wu added.