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Mass. Rep. Christopher Flanagan Indicted on Expanded Fraud, Money Laundering and Tax Counts

The new counts heighten pressure on the Cape Cod Democrat to leave office.

Overview

  • Federal prosecutors, in a superseding indictment unsealed Friday, added eight wire-fraud counts, a money-laundering count, a records-falsification count and three false-tax-return counts against Christopher Flanagan.
  • Prosecutors say he stole about $36,000 from the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Cape Cod, a local builders trade group, and spent the money on mortgage and credit card bills and personal items including psychic services and an air conditioner.
  • The tax charges allege he failed to report the stolen funds on his 2021 through 2023 personal returns and left rental income off his 2023 filing.
  • The money-laundering count centers on a $10,000 transfer that prosecutors say moved stolen funds through his personal account into his campaign account to conceal the source.
  • State leaders urged his resignation and a state elections official said he has not filed to run again, while he awaits a Boston federal court appearance and maintains a not-guilty plea in the earlier case.