BOSTON, MA – Former Massachusetts State Senator Dean Tran, 48, of Fitchburg, was arrested and charged with wire fraud and filing false tax returns, as per a federal indictment. He is scheduled to appear in federal court in Boston at 1:30 p.m. today.
Tran, who served in the Massachusetts State Senate representing Worcester and Middlesex from 2017 to January 2021, is accused of fraudulently applying for pandemic unemployment benefits after securing employment as a paid consultant for a New Hampshire-based automotive parts company. He allegedly collected $30,120 in pandemic unemployment benefits while employed as a consultant.
Additionally, the indictment alleges that Tran concealed over $50,000 in consulting income from the automotive parts company on his 2021 federal income tax return. This concealment also includes undisclosed rental income from a Fitchburg property he owned from 2020 to 2022.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy highlighted the seriousness of the allegations, emphasizing the misuse of critical public resources meant for those in genuine need. He stressed the commitment to safeguarding the integrity of public assistance programs.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen condemned Tran’s actions, noting the betrayal of public trust and exploitation of pandemic aid intended for struggling individuals. She emphasized the FBI’s dedication to combatting such fraud schemes.
Special Agent-in-Charge Jonathan Mellone from the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, and IRS Criminal Investigations Special Agent in Charge Harry Chavis, Jr., also underscored their commitment to investigating and prosecuting fraud, especially in public assistance programs and cases involving elected officials.
Tran faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud and up to three years for filing false tax returns, along with potential fines. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge, based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.