Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson, a former illegal immigrant hailing from Cape Verde, was arrested Friday, according to an announcement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Consequently, the far-left Boston politician has been indicted on five counts of aiding and abetting wire fraud and theft from federally funded programs. Fernandes Anderson allegedly orchestrated a kickback scheme involving a staff member that resulted in the illicit acquisition of several thousand dollars of taxpayer money.
U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy elaborated on the charges during a news conference, asserting that the six felony counts are tied to the councilor’s alleged agreement to receive a bribe in exchange for accessing public funds. “When her constituents elected Ms. Fernandes Anderson, she had a fundamental obligation to act with the utmost integrity. Public officials who line their pockets with taxpayer money erode the trust and confidence of the public in the officials who serve them,” Levy said.
Fernandes Anderson made history as Boston’s first Muslim city councilor and the first former illegal immigrant on the council. She was originally elected in November 2021 and re-elected the following year. Her district encompasses Roxbury, Dorchester, the South End, and Fenway.
The court documents reveal that the 45-year-old councilor was experiencing financial difficulties in 2023, which led to issues such as bank overdraft fees and difficulty meeting car and rent payments. Early Friday morning, agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) took Fernandes Anderson into custody.
However, this is not the first time the Boston city councilor has been embroiled in controversy over hiring family members. In 2022, she admitted hiring her sister and son as staff and was forced to terminate their employment.