On Friday morning, FBI special agents in Boston arrested a City Councilor on public corruption charges. While the FBI statement did not disclose the name of the individual, media reports have identified the lawmaker as Tania Fernandes Anderson.
Fernandes Anderson, who represents District 7 encompassing Boston neighborhoods such as Roxbury, Dorchester, Fenway, and a portion of the South End, was taken into custody at her home in Dorchester. The arrest follows an investigation by federal authorities, with Fernandes Anderson facing federal charges of wire fraud and theft related to programs receiving federal funds.
Reports indicate that in 2023, a Massachusetts ethics commission found Fernandes Anderson in violation of conflict-of-interest laws for hiring her sister and son at City Hall after her election in 2021 and subsequently increasing their salaries to $70,000 annually. She terminated their employment in 2022 and paid a fine of $5,000 in connection with the matter.
Furthermore, last month, Massachusetts’ Office of Campaign and Political Finance notified Fernandes Anderson's campaign of accepting contributions exceeding legal limits and failing to submit deposit information promptly.
Before her election to the Boston City Council in 2021, Fernandes Anderson held various roles, including Executive Director of Bowdoin Geneva Main Streets, parent advocate with Boston Public Schools, program manager at a homeless women’s shelter, business owner, and child social worker. She also served as a foster parent to 17 children while raising two biological children.
The FBI is scheduled to hold a news conference regarding the arrest at 9:30 a.m. ET. The bureau has not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter.
