A federal grand jury in Boston indicted a city councilor on public corruption charges relating to a kickback scheme, in which she allegedly accepted thousands of dollars from a staff member in return for a substantial bonus.

Tania Fernandes Anderson, the District 7 representative in Boston, was arrested by FBI agents on Friday morning, as confirmed by U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, Joshua Levy, during a press briefing following her arrest without incident.

Agents apprehended the 45-year-old Anderson just after 6 a.m. outside her residence in Dorchester, which is located approximately six miles south of downtown Boston. Her district encompasses Dorchester, Roxbury, Fenway, and portions of the South End.

FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Steve Kelleher stated that Anderson cooperated with agents and came outside after they called for her.

“We suspect she was dealing with personal financial struggles, which led her to commit theft,” Kelleher remarked, describing her alleged misconduct as “an affront to taxpayers and the city of Boston.”

“This situation is the result of her own choices,” added the FBI special agent.

The federal indictment specifies that Anderson faces five counts of wire fraud, including aiding and abetting, in addition to one count of theft involving programs that receive federal funding.

She is expected to appear in federal court later today.

YSL News has reached out to Anderson’s office for further comments.

Details of the Indictment: Staff Member Handed $7,000 to Anderson in City Hall Bathroom

A comprehensive 11-page indictment submitted to the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts reveals that each Boston city councilor receives a budget of several hundred thousand dollars to cover salaries and bonuses for their staff, which includes positions like chief of staff, communications, and constituent services.

The indictment notes that last year, the ethics commission discovered Anderson had breached conflict of interest laws by hiring two relatives at City Hall and subsequently raising their salaries.

As a result, she was fined $5,000 for nepotism, according to the indictment.

The latest allegations claim that Anderson rewarded a staff member—who is also her relative—with $13,000 in bonus money, under the condition that the staffer would return a portion of that money to her.

The relative earns an annual salary of $65,000, while public records indicate that Anderson’s salary was $103,500 per year for the last two years.

In early June 2023, the staff member withdrew a total of $7,000 from the bonus payout during two bank visits. On June 9, around 4:11 p.m., the staff member texted Anderson to meet in a City Hall bathroom, where she purportedly received the $7,000.

No Additional Charges Filed in Boston City Councilor’s Corruption Case

Levy announced that prosecutors from his office have presented the case to a grand jury, resulting in the indictment of the city council member.

No additional individuals have been charged in connection with this investigation as of Friday, although Levy mentioned that the inquiry is open and continues.

Background on Tania Fernandes Anderson

Anderson was elected to the Boston City Council on November 2, 2021.

As stated in her online city biography, prior to her election, she served as the executive director of Bowdoin Geneva Main Streets, a parent advocate for Boston Public Schools, a program manager for a shelter for women experiencing homelessness, a business owner, and a social worker for children. She is a mother of two and has fostered 17 other children, as mentioned in her biography.

If anyone has information regarding this case, they are urged to contact the FBI.