Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson, a Democrat and the first Muslim elected to the council, was arrested on Friday by FBI agents.
Tania Fernandes Anderson, who served as Vice Chair of the Post Audit Committee, which oversees government accountability, was arrested on six felony charges (five counts of wire fraud and one count of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds) stemming from a kickback scheme.
“The charges stem from an alleged kickback scheme she orchestrated to obtain several thousand dollars in taxpayer money in exchange for bribes paid,” U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy said at Friday’s press conference, according to NBC Boston.
According to the indictment, Fernandes Anderson allegedly awarded a $13,000 bonus to a staffer, identified as “Staff Member A,” who is also a relative, on the condition that the staffer return a significant portion of the bonus—approximately $7,000—directly to her.