Former Massachusetts State Senator Dean Tran has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for defrauding the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance and neglecting to report significant income to the IRS. Tran, 48, was convicted on multiple counts of wire fraud and filing false tax returns in September 2024.
While working as a consultant for The Automotive Parts Company, Tran fraudulently collected $30,120 in pandemic unemployment benefits and concealed $54,700 in consulting income on his 2021 tax return.
Additionally, he hid rental income from his Fitchburg property over a two-year period.
The sentencing also includes restitution payments totaling $48,427 to both the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance and the IRS, along with a $7,500 fine and a $2,300 mandatory assessment.
Federal authorities, including the FBI, emphasized their commitment to holding individuals accountable for fraud, especially in government programs intended to assist those in need during the pandemic.