A former Massachusetts state senator, Dean Tran, has been accused of engaging in fraudulent activities, including collecting over $30,000 in COVID-19 pandemic unemployment benefits and filing false tax returns. The U.S. attorney’s office for Massachusetts has indicted Tran on 25 counts of wire fraud and three counts of filing false tax returns. He was arrested on Friday morning and is expected to be arraigned later in the day.
Tran, who served as a Republican state senator representing Worcester and Middlesex from 2017 to January 2021, is alleged to have fraudulently applied for pandemic unemployment benefits after accepting a consulting job with a New Hampshire-based automotive parts company. Prosecutors claim that he collected approximately $30,000 in unemployment benefits while working at the new job.
In addition to the unemployment benefits fraud, Tran is also accused of failing to report over $50,000 in consulting income on his 2021 federal income tax return. The U.S. attorney’s office further states that he concealed thousands of dollars in rental income from the IRS, money collected from tenants between 2020 and 2022.
FBI agent Jodi Cohen expressed disappointment in Tran’s alleged actions, stating, “Dean Tran was once elected to serve taxpayers, but today we arrested him for allegedly cheating them out of tens of thousands of dollars in fraudulent unemployment benefits that were meant to be a lifeline for those struggling for survival as a result of the pandemic.”
Phone and email messages left with Tran’s lawyer seeking comment were not immediately returned. It remains to be seen how Tran will respond to the charges brought against him.
This case highlights the importance of ensuring the integrity of pandemic relief programs and the necessity of holding individuals accountable for fraudulent activities. It serves as a reminder that public officials should uphold the trust placed in them by the public and act in the best interest of the citizens they serve.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the consequences for Tran could be significant if he is found guilty. This indictment raises questions about the potential impact on Tran’s political career and the broader implications for public trust in elected officials.
