Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson was facing financial troubles when she hired a relative to her staff and “hatched a scheme to funnel taxpayer money into her own pocket,” federal investigators allege.
Fernandes Anderson was arrested Friday morning at her Dorchester home on federal public corruption charges, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office of Massachusetts and FBI Boston.
Fernandes Anderson, who represents Roxbury, Dorchester, and part of the South End, is charged with five counts of wire fraud and one count of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, according to an 11-page federal indictment.
The indictment alleges that Fernandes Anderson launched a kickback scheme by hiring someone related to her in late 2022. It’s further alleged that she falsely represented to the city that she and the staff member were not related.
As part of the scheme, Fernandes Anderson allegedly agreed to pay the staffer a $13,000 bonus on the condition that part of it would be returned to her. U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy said that the bonus was more than twice as much as what the rest of her staff was making in combined bonuses.
Fernandes Anderson accepted $7,000 in a cash kickback withdrawal from that staffer during a meeting in a bathroom in Boston City Hall on June 9, 2023, text messages obtained by investigators showed.
At the time of receiving the payment, Fernandes Anderson was facing financial troubles, including missing rent and car payments and incurring bank overdraft fees which resulted in low daily balances, according to prosecutors. She had also been slapped with an Ethics Commission fine.
“Ms. Fernandes Anderson was facing financial difficulty in 2023,” Levy said. “Around the same time in 2023, Ms. Fernandes Anderson, the grand jury alleges, hatched this scheme to funnel bonus payments, taxpayer money, into her own pocket.”
Levy added, “All of that money was funded by the taxpayers of the city of Boston.”
FBI Boston Assistant Special Agent in Charge Stephen Kelleher called Fernandes Anderson’s alleged actions “a situation of her own making.”
Tania Fernandes Anderson Indictment 12-6-24 by Fox Boston Staff on Scribd
Born in Cape Verde, Fernandes Anderson was elected to the Boston City Council on Nov. 2, 2021, according to biographical information on the city’s website. She won reelection in November 2023. Her current term as Councilor is slated to run through January 2026.
Fernandes Anderson, who earned a salary of about $103,500 in 2022 and 2023, is not new to controversy while serving on the Boston City Council.
In 2023, Fernandes Anderson agreed to pay a $5,000 civil penalty after admitting to violating the conflict of interest law by hiring her sister and son to paid positions on her Boston City Council staff, state officials said.
“When faced with financial hardship and that State Ethics Commission $5,000 sanction, Ms. Fernandes Anderson chose to violate her fiduciary duty and defraud the city of Boston, the indictment alleges, rather than find a legal means to pay off that debt,” Levy said.
Soon after her November 2021 election to the Boston City Council, Fernandes Anderson appointed her sister as her full-time Director of Constituent Services, according to the disposition agreement.
Fernandes Anderson initially set her sister’s annual salary at $65,000. In June 2022, she increased it to $70,000 and awarded her sister a $7,000 bonus, according to the disposition agreement.
Also, in June 2022, Fernandes Anderson appointed her son as her full-time office manager at an annual salary of $52,000. 11 days later, her son’s salary increased to $70,000.
Fernandes Anderson ended the employment of her sister and son on Aug. 31, 2022.
Earlier this week, Fernandes Anderson commented publicly after news broke that she was under federal investigation, but she didn’t directly address the allegations.
“To my all people, District 7 Constituents, About the news yesterday. You know that I am always transparent with you and that I am always available,” Fernandes Anderson said in her statement.
She added, “My job is to show up and to fight for you. And I will continue to do just that; the people’s work. Unfortunately, I am not able to comment on this matter at this time. As soon as I can I will be sure to share with you.”Earlier this week, Fernandes Anderson commented publicly after news broke that she was under federal investigation, but she didn’t directly address the allegations.
It’s unclear if Fernandes Anderson will retain her position on the City Council moving forward.
She is due to be arraigned in federal court at 3 p.m.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
