In a stunning turn of events, Massachusetts State Representative Christopher Flanagan (D-Barnstable) is now the subject of a House Ethics Committee investigation after being charged in federal court for wire fraud and identity theft.
Flanagan, who previously served as executive director of the Massachusetts Broadband Institute, allegedly used his position to submit fake invoices and reroute payments totaling over $75,000 to his personal bank account, federal prosecutors said.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office unsealed a criminal complaint last Friday, citing “serious breaches of public trust”. The charges include:
- Two counts of wire fraud
- One count of aggravated identity theft
According to the complaint, Flanagan created phony vendor records and used the identities of unsuspecting third parties to validate fake transactions.
Speaker of the House Ronald Mariano said, “These are deeply disturbing allegations. The public deserves accountability. We will cooperate fully with federal authorities.”
Flanagan has denied wrongdoing and says he “looks forward to clearing his name.” But public pressure is mounting, with constituents and watchdog groups demanding immediate resignation.
Flanagan is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court next week. If convicted, he could face decades in federal prison.
