BOSTON — A Boston city councilor was taken into custody on Friday as federal prosecutors filed fraud allegations against her, claiming she diverted part of a significantly inflated bonus payment meant for a relative who worked as a staff member. This exchange reportedly took place in a bathroom at City Hall, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.
Tania Fernandes Anderson, aged 45, who is currently grappling with financial hardships, has been charged with five counts of wire fraud and one count of theft pertaining to a program that receives federal funding, stated Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy.
Dressed in a red winter jacket, Anderson entered a not guilty plea to the allegations and was subsequently released following her arraignment. A grand jury had formally indicted her just earlier this week.
The financial strain Anderson is experiencing this year has been exacerbated by the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission’s notification that it plans to impose a $5,000 fine for her hiring of immediate family members in her office, a practice prohibited for council members.
“In spite of being under investigation by the ethics commission, Ms. Fernandes Anderson proceeded to employ another family member to provide constituent services at Boston City Hall,” Levy indicated. “She misleadingly told City Hall that there was no familial connection with this staffer.”
Anderson allegedly promised the staff member, a female relative, a bonus of $13,000, which significantly exceeded the total bonuses provided to the rest of her staff combined, according to Levy.
“However, this generous bonus came with conditions,” Levy explained, noting that the staffer was instructed to return $7,000 in cash. The staffer, identified as “staff member A” in the indictment, reportedly consented to this arrangement.
After deductions, the staffer had approximately $10,000 deposited into her bank account. She withdrew this amount over several transactions in May and June of 2023 and later arranged to meet Anderson in the City Hall restroom on June 9, where the cash exchange occurred, per Levy’s account.
Each wire fraud charge could result in a sentence of up to 20 years in prison alongside a fine of as much as $250,000. The theft charge carries a potential penalty of up to ten years and a similar fine.
Anderson communicated with her constituents on Wednesday, asserting her commitment: “You know that I am always transparent with you and always available. My job is to show up and fight for you, and I will continue to do just that.”
Since her election in November 2021, Anderson has been recognized as the first African immigrant and the first Muslim to serve on the council, having been re-elected in 2023.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has called for Anderson’s resignation, emphasizing that the charges “erode public trust and will hinder her ability to effectively serve the city.”
