Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson has agreed to plead guilty to federal charges of wire fraud and theft concerning a program receiving federal funds, stemming from a kickback scheme involving a relative on her staff.
According to court documents, Fernandes Anderson awarded a $13,000 bonus to a staff member—who is also a relative—in May 2023. She then allegedly received $7,000 of that amount back in cash, which was handed to her in a City Hall bathroom.
The councilor was reportedly facing financial difficulties at the time and had been ordered to pay a $5,000 civil penalty by the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission for previously hiring immediate family members in violation of conflict-of-interest laws.
Newly surfaced video footage has added further controversy to the case. The footage shows Fernandes Anderson loading office furniture into a U-Haul truck just weeks before pleading guilty. At the time of the removal, she had not yet formally resigned from her position. It is still unclear whether the furniture belonged to her personally or to the City of Boston.
Fernandes Anderson, who made history in 2021 as the first African immigrant and Muslim elected to Boston’s City Council, announced she will resign from her position. “I would like to apologize to my constituents, supporters, and all who have been impacted. Please forgive me,” she said in a statement.
Federal prosecutors are recommending a sentence of one year and one day in prison, three years of supervised release, and $13,000 in restitution. A formal plea hearing has yet to be scheduled.
