Massachusetts State Representative Christopher Flanagan (D-Barnstable) is facing major legal troubles, as federal fraud charges have prompted the opening of a House Ethics Committee investigation.
According to federal prosecutors, Flanagan — who previously served as executive director of the Massachusetts Broadband Institute — is accused of submitting fake invoices and funneling more than $75,000 into his own bank account.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office, citing “serious breaches of public trust,” made the charges public on Friday by unsealing a criminal complaint. The allegations include:
- Two counts of wire fraud
- One count of aggravated identity theft
Prosecutors say Flanagan created fake vendor documents and used the personal information of unsuspecting individuals to approve the bogus transactions.
