A view of the Boston City Council chamber during a session.
Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson has pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges, admitting to receiving a $7,000 kickback related to a $13,000 bonus for a staff member. Despite an annual salary of $103,500, her financial struggles included significant debt and undisclosed income. The council now seeks her removal while she plans to resign after the budget process. Sentencing is scheduled for July 2025, with a recommendation for prison time and restitution.
Boston – Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson has pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges stemming from her involvement in a kickback scheme that contributed to her financial hardships. On May 5, 2025, she admitted to pocketing a $7,000 kickback from a staff member after awarding them a $13,000 bonus. This admission came during a plea hearing that revealed her ongoing financial struggles, including nearly $20,000 in debt.
Fernandes Anderson, who was elected to the City Council in November 2021 and took office in January 2022, faced a series of challenges prior to her guilty plea. By 2023, she owed approximately $19,000 on a $35,000 loan identified as payable to a company called Naviance. Notably, the name of her loan provider was misspelled in her financial disclosure statement, raising questions about her financial transparency. Her latest disclosure, which is due by May 30, has left details regarding the current status of her debts unclear, while she had claimed to be on a “deferring” payment plan and reported no assets.
In December 2024, Fernandes Anderson was indicted and arrested on six charges related to corruption; however, four charges were later dropped as part of a plea deal. The corruption scheme included a cash handoff in a City Hall bathroom, where the staff member returned a portion of the bonus after it was coordinated through text messages. Prosecutors indicated that her motives were influenced by pressing personal financial issues, including missed rent, car payments, and a $5,000 fee due to the state Ethics Commission.
Despite her annual salary of $103,500 in 2023, which increased to $120,000 in 2024, her financial situation became increasingly precarious. She also failed to report significant income on her tax returns for the years 2021, 2022, and 2023, including $11,000 that belonged to campaign funds but was instead used for personal expenses. These discrepancies included the undisclosed $7,000 kickback that she ultimately pocketed.
Fernandes Anderson’s time in office has been marked by a commendable yet complicated past. She is recognized as the first Muslim, African immigrant, and formerly undocumented individual elected to the Boston City Council, subsequently becoming a naturalized citizen in 2019. She graduated from the John D. O’Bryant High School of Mathematics and Science and attended Springfield College, where she has previously identified her education level as “some college.”
The City Council is now faced with an emergency resolution from fellow councilors seeking her removal from the council. However, current council leadership has noted that they cannot unseat a member until after their sentencing. Fernandes Anderson has indicated plans to resign following the City Council’s budget process, which typically concludes in late June. Furthermore, she has recently been absent from council meetings due to a claimed family-related medical emergency.
Sentencing for Fernandes Anderson is scheduled for July 29, 2025. The U.S. Attorney’s office has recommended a prison term of one year and one day, along with restitution of $13,000. During the proceedings, she has expressed remorse for her actions and made promises to fulfill her duties diligently until her time in office concludes.
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