Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson will plead guilty in federal corruption case and resign
Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson has agreed to plead guilty to federal corruption charges and will resign from the City Council.
"I have decided to plead guilty and resolve the case brought against me. I would like to apologize to my constituents, supporters, and all who have been impacted. Please forgive me," Fernandes Anderson said, adding that she will be resigning from Boston City Council.
The U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts charged Fernandes Anderson with wire fraud, theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and forfeiture allegations in December.
On Tuesday, prosecutors announced that Fernandes Anderson agreed to plead guilty to count one of wire fraud and one count of theft concerning a program receiving federal funds. A plea hearing has not yet been scheduled.
"I will be resigning. It is the right thing to do," Fernandes Anderson said. "In coming days, I will evaluate transition plans and timeline with the District 7 Advisory Council. I will do everything possible to make an orderly exit to ensure my constituents' needs are met."
Fernandes Anderson was facing decades in prison if convicted at trial. U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Leah Foley said the government is recommending a sentence of one year and one day in prison followed by three years of supervised released and $13,000 in restitution.
Tania Fernandes Anderson criminal case
Fernandes Anderson was accused of taking a $7,000 kickback in 2023. Federal prosecutors said Fernandes Anderson hired a relative to her staff in 2022 at a salary of $65,000 per year. Prosecutors said the relative allegedly got a $13,000 bonus in May 2023 and later kicked back some of the money to Fernandes Anderson in a prearranged deal.
The indictment against Fernandes Anderson revealed that in mid-2023, she was "facing personal financial difficulty" and "missing monthly rent and car payments."
Fernandes Anderson and the person only identified by prosecutors as Staff Member A allegedly met in a bathroom in Boston City Hall for the exchange of $7,000 in cash.
As part of the plea deal, Fernandes Anderson admitted she filed fraudulent income taxes in 2021, 2022 and 2023. She will not face tax charges.
Calls to resign
Following Fernandes Anderson's arrest, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu called on the city councilor to resign from her position. Instead, Fernandes Anderson said she was focused on her work and would not step down. She has remained a member of the Boston City Council.
"People have the right to their opinion, but they should allow for the privilege everyone has to due process," Fernandes Anderson said in December.
"It's unfortunate what has happened here. It seems that there's been some sense of justice reached here," Wu said after hearing of Fernandes Anderson's decision.
On Tuesday, City Councilor Ed Flynn also called on Fernandes Anderson to resign and said the Boston City Council needs an ethics committee, which the City Council rejected in January. Flynn also called on councilors to make statements of financial interest and five years of federal tax returns available to the public.
"This development follows a series of legal and ethical lapses by members at the Boston City Council over the last several years, which have reflected poorly on the City and undermined public trust in our work. We have not taken the necessary steps to regain our credibility with the public," Flynn said.
City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune said she agreed with Fernandes Anderson's decision to resign. "Councilor Fernandes Anderson has made the decision to resign. Per my prior statement on this matter, I agree with her decision. Our residents look to elected officials to lead with integrity, and the Boston City Council must continue to do just that."
What happens to District 7?
Fernandes Anderson lives in Dorchester and represents District 7. That includes the neighborhoods of Roxbury, Dorchester, Fenway and part of the South End. She was elected to her first two-year term in November 2021 and then re-elected in November 2023.
Boston City Council will meet Wednesday to discuss whether to hold a special election for District 7 to replace the councilor.
"We know she's guilty now, and she needs to deal with everything. I wish her luck going forward, but as one of the members on the City Council, I have strong feelings about making sure that we move this along quickly and get back to the business," said City Councilor Erin Murphy.
