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First Black Muslim Female Boston Councilor Heads to Prison on Corruption Charges [WATCH]

Former Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson was sentenced to prison on Friday after pleading guilty to public corruption charges related to a kickback scheme carried out while in office.

Fernandes Anderson, a Democrat and the first Muslim elected to the Boston City Council, was arrested by federal agents in December 2024.

She had served as Vice Chair of the Post Audit Committee, a role responsible for overseeing government accountability.

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Prosecutors charged her with five counts of wire fraud and one count of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds.

According to U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy, the charges stemmed from “an alleged kickback scheme she orchestrated to obtain several thousand dollars in taxpayer money in exchange for bribes paid.”

The indictment outlined that Fernandes Anderson awarded a $13,000 bonus to a staff member who is also a relative, identified in documents as “Staff Member A.”

Prosecutors said the agreement required the staff member to return approximately $7,000 of the bonus directly to her.

Evidence presented in court showed the transaction was completed inside a bathroom at Boston City Hall.

According to the indictment, text messages revealed Fernandes Anderson and the staffer discussing the kickback and confirming the payment arrangement.

After pleading guilty in May, Fernandes Anderson appeared in court Friday for sentencing.

A federal judge sentenced her to one month in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to repay the $13,000 in restitution.

Federal prosecutors had recommended a prison term of one year and one day, but the court ultimately imposed the shorter sentence.

Outside the courthouse following the decision, Fernandes Anderson made a brief statement.

“I actually don’t like being in the media,” she told reporters.

“It’s just too much and so can you please, I’m asking you for the love of god, stop talking about me? Just let the story go. It happened, I took responsibility.”

The case drew widespread attention given Fernandes Anderson’s position on the council and the nature of the allegations.

Prosecutors emphasized that the scheme directly abused taxpayer funds and undermined public trust in the city’s governing body.

Fernandes Anderson had first been elected to the Boston City Council in 2021, becoming the first Muslim member in its history.

Her conviction and sentencing mark one of the highest-profile corruption cases involving a member of the council in recent years.

The Boston City Council has not issued an official statement in response to the sentencing.

Federal authorities, meanwhile, said the case underscores the importance of holding public officials accountable when taxpayer funds are misused.

Fernandes Anderson is scheduled to begin serving her prison sentence in the coming weeks.



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