Democrat Tania Fernandes Anderson was arrested by FBI agents on six felony charges, including five counts of wire fraud and one count of theft concerning federally funded programs, relating to an alleged kickback scheme orchestrated by Fernandes Anderson to receive thousands of taxpayer dollars, according to U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy.

“Miss Fernandes Anderson was facing financial difficulty in 2023,” Levy said. “Part of that financial difficulty stemmed from a sanction that was imposed by the state ethics commission of $5,000 for Miss Fernandes Anderson hiring immediate family members in her Boston City Council office.”

“In and around that same time in 2023, Miss Fernandes Anderson, the grand jury alleges, hatched this scheme to funnel bonus payments, taxpayer money, into her own pocket, in the tune of approximately $7,000,” he continued.

Despite the fact Fernandes Anderson was under investigation, she brought on at least one other family member to her staff for constituent relations.

“That staff member was related to her, but Miss Fernandes Anderson falsely represented to city hall that there was no familial relationship,” according to Levy. “That is Staff Member A in the indictment.”

The indictment against Fernandes Anderson alleges Fernandes Anderson instructed Staff Member A that they would receive a bonus of $13,000 contingent on a $7,000 kickback.

“On or about June 9, 2023, at approximately 4:11 p.m., Staff Member A texted Fernandes Anderson, ‘Bathroom’ to let FERNANDES ANDERSON know that Staff Member A was waiting in the bathroom to hand the $7,000 cash to FERNANDES ANDERSON,” the indictment reads. “Within seconds, FERNANDES ANDERSON texted Staff Member A, ‘Ready’ to confirm that Fernandes Anderson was ready to accept the $7,000 cash kickback from Staff Member A.”

“Shortly following these texts, Staff Member A handed FERNANDES ANDERSON approximately $7,000 in cash at a bathroom in City Hall,” it noted.

All of the money was funded by the taxpayers of Boston, according to Levy.

“Miss Fernandes Anderson chose to violate her fiduciary duty and defraud the city of Boston, the indictment alleges, rather than find a legal means to pay off that debt,” he said.

“When her constituents elected Miss Fernandes Anderson, she had a fundamental obligation to act with the utmost integrity. Public officials who line their pockets with taxpayer money erode the trust and confidence of the public in the officials who serve them. Public service is a privilege, and all of us in public service have a duty to act with integrity and fairness in all that we do.”

Democratic Boston Mayor Michelle Wu publicly called for Fernandes Anderson’s resignation hours after the councilwoman’s arrest.

“Like any member of the community, Councilor Fernandes Anderson has the right to a fair legal process. But the serious nature of these charges undermine the public trust and will prevent her from effectively serving the city,” Wu said in a statement. “I urge Councilor Fernandes Anderson to resign.”

Fernandes Anderson was arrested at her Dorchester home and is expected to appear before a federal court Friday afternoon.