A Democratic legislator in Massachusetts was arrested and accused after they allegedly stole tens of thousands of dollars from a local commercial association to finance personal and political expenses.
The Massachusetts state representative, Christopher Flanagan, 37, was accused of five charges of fraud to the cable and a position of falsification of records on Friday, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Flanagan served as Executive Officer of the Association of Builders of Vivien in Cape CED and received a salary and benefits ranging between $ 65,800 and $ 81,600 from 2019 to 2024 when he worked there. Flanagan also received $ 97,546 and $ 100,945 in 2023 and 2024, respectively, from his position as a legislator.
As of October 2021, Flanagan faced financial problems and stole $ 36,000 in funds from the Association of Housing Builders through bank transfers, according to the Department of Justice.
As of November 18, 2021 and on January 28, 2023, Flanagan connected between $ 1,500 to $ 10,000 on several separate occasions.
The Department of Justice said that Flanagan used funds to pay mortgage bills, pay the debt and even pay personal psychic services.
In an expenses report, the Department of Justice said that Flanagan claimed to have spent $ 159.36 on “Technology Services” in Best Buy and $ 537.26 in “Office supplies” in 4imprint, but the records showed that the money was used to buy a bluetooth.
Another expense report shows that $ 3,784,84 were spent on office supplies. The Department of Justice said that $ 2.118.10 was used for personal expenses in Best Buy, Macy’s and Target.
The federal authorities also claimed that Flanagan obstructed an investigation by Massachusetts’s political campaign and finance office when he attributed the source of a campaign email to “Jeanne Louise”, a false person who allegedly created.
Flanagan faces up to 20 years in prison for the position of cable fraud and up to 20 years for the position of falsification of records.
Fox News Digital communicated with Flanagan and his lawyer to comment.