Former Massachusetts Senator Sentenced for COVID-19, Tax Fraud

Former Massachusetts State Senator Dean Tran has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for defrauding the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance and failing to report income to the IRS. After his term ended in 2021, Tran fraudulently received $30,120 in pandemic unemployment benefits while employed as a consultant for a New Hampshire auto parts retailer, concealing an additional $54,700 in consulting income from his tax returns. Convicted on 20 counts of wire fraud and three counts of filing false tax returns, Tran was also ordered to pay restitution totaling over $48,000 to state and federal authorities, along with a $7,500 fine. U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley emphasized that Tran's actions erode public trust in elected officials and divert resources from those in need. Tran was the first Vietnamese American elected to state office in Massachusetts and previously ran unsuccessfully for Congress. The case highlights ongoing efforts to combat fraud associated with pandemic relief programs.