Court records or official announcements from the U.S. Attorney's Office

Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson Arrested in FBI Kickback Probe

Dec 6, 2024, 03:58 PM

Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson was arrested by FBI agents on Friday morning on federal charges of wire fraud and theft related to a kickback scheme involving public funds. The arrest took place at her home in Dorchester, and she was indicted on five counts of wire fraud and one count of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds. The charges stem from an alleged scheme where Fernandes Anderson hired a relative to her staff and orchestrated a plan to funnel taxpayer money into her own pocket through a bonus kickback arrangement. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Boston and the FBI confirmed the arrest, detailing that the scheme involved thousands of dollars in stolen public funds. Following the arrest, Boston Mayor Wu called for Fernandes Anderson's resignation, a call echoed by several other city councilors. Fernandes Anderson has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has been assigned a public defender.