City councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson from Boston was indicted by a federal grand jury on public corruption charges for her involvement in a kickback scheme. Anderson was arrested by FBI agents outside her home and is facing charges of wire fraud and theft. She allegedly received thousands of dollars from a staff member in exchange for a big bonus from the budget allotted to pay salaries and bonuses for staff.
Anderson has a history of violating conflict of interest laws, including hiring family members and increasing their salaries. Most recently, she gave a $13,000 bonus to a relative who then gave her $7,000 back in a bathroom at City Hall. The investigation is ongoing, and Anderson is the only one indicted so far.
Before serving on the Boston City Council, Anderson had a diverse career background including executive director of a Main Streets organization, a parent advocate in Boston Public Schools, a program manager for a homeless women’s shelter, a business owner, and a child social worker. She has two children of her own and has fostered 17 others.
Anderson’s arrest has shocked the community, with law enforcement officials condemning her actions as a betrayal of taxpayers and the city of Boston. The case is under investigation, and anyone with information is encouraged to contact the FBI.
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