Boston’s City Council is embarking on a new chapter following the resignation of City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson, who stepped down after being convicted on federal corruption charges. Her departure was finalized on July 4, coinciding with the nation’s Independence Day.
Fernandes Anderson, 46, pleaded guilty to two out of six charges in a federal indictment that was issued last December. Her indictment came alongside her arrest outside her Dorchester residence.
As part of a plea deal with the U.S. Attorney’s office, she admitted to one count of wire fraud and one count of theft concerning a federal program. The remaining four wire fraud charges were dropped in the deal finalized in early April.
The corruption charges against Fernandes Anderson are linked to a kickback scheme executed at City Hall two years ago. While serving as a councilor, she awarded her relative, who was also a staffer, a $13,000 bonus. However, this bonus was conditional upon receiving a $7,000 kickback, a transaction which was notably coordinated through text messages and took place in a City Hall bathroom in June 2023, according to court documents.
Fernandes Anderson submitted her formal resignation letter to the city on June 12, with her last day of service indicated as July 4. For several months, she faced growing pressure to resign from Mayor Michelle Wu and five other city councilors, including the council president, after her arrest and indictment in December.
State law stipulates that councilors can only be removed from their position after sentencing for a felony conviction. As of now, Fernandes Anderson is set to face sentencing in federal court on July 29.
The U.S. Attorney’s office has recommended a sentence that includes a year and a day in prison, along with a restitution payment of $13,000. It is essential to note that the presiding federal judge has cautioned Fernandes Anderson, emphasizing that they may deviate from the prosecution’s recommendation and impose a more severe sentence.
The wire fraud charge carries a potential maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, as well as a maximum fine of $250,000. The theft charge related to federal funding could lead to a sentence of up to 10 years and a similar fine of $250,000.
The indictment also highlights how Fernandes Anderson’s actions may have been driven, in part, by her financial struggles. At the time of her misconduct, she was facing a looming $5,000 penalty for a state ethics violation due to hiring two immediate family members for her City Council staff and providing them with raises and bonuses.
During her tenure, Fernandes Anderson drew a salary of $120,000 annually and represented District 7, which encompasses areas like Roxbury, Dorchester, Fenway, and parts of the South End. Notably, she made history as the first Muslim American, African immigrant, and former undocumented individual elected to the City Council, beginning her service in January 2022, and her resignation occurred in the midst of her second term.
With her departure, the city is looking ahead, as eleven candidates have already qualified to be on the ballot for the District 7 preliminary election on September 9. The top two candidates from this primary will advance to the general election on November 4.
City officials expressed a desire to have the new District 7 councilor take their seat immediately after the November election, rather than leaving the position vacant until the swearing-in ceremony scheduled for early January.
image source from：bostonherald
