Embattled Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson is expected to plead guilty to federal corruption charges during a scheduled court hearing Monday afternoon at the John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse in the Seaport District.
The 46-year-old councilor will appear in front of a federal judge to formally plead guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of theft involving public funds, according to a plea agreement reached with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
In exchange for her guilty plea, four additional charges will be dropped by prosecutors.
The plea deal comes just weeks after Fernandes Anderson announced she would resign her position on the City Council, ending a tenure marred by allegations of public corruption and misuse of taxpayer funds.
Jail Time Recommended by Prosecutors
Under the terms of the plea agreement, federal prosecutors will recommend that Fernandes Anderson be sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Additionally, the agreement includes a recommendation for her to pay $13,000 in restitution and a monetary fine, though the final decision will be left to the discretion of the court.
The Charges and Allegations
The federal investigation stems from an alleged scheme in which Fernandes Anderson is accused of funneling public funds through a relative on her City Hall staff.
According to investigators, she orchestrated an inflated bonus payment, portions of which were kicked back to her in a City Hall bathroom exchange.
She was arrested in December following the investigation and has since faced mounting pressure to resign.
City officials are preparing for Fernandes Anderson’s official resignation, which is expected to become effective shortly after the hearing.
Her departure will trigger a process to fill the vacant council seat and renew scrutiny over City Hall hiring practices and the use of discretionary bonuses.
