A state representative in Massachusetts was arrested for stealing $36,000 from a Cape Cod-based builders trade group.
Rep. Christopher Flanagan, a Democrat elected in 2022 from the First Barnstable District, was indicted on five counts of wire fraud and one count of falsification of records. Flanagan was accused of stealing funds from the Home Builders Association of Cape Cod, where he served as the executive officer from 2019 to 2024.
Some of the stolen funds were used to pay off credit card and mortgage debt, while other funds were funneled into his political campaign. Some of the money was used to buy luxury items and pay for personal psychic services. Flanagan received annual salary and benefits ranging approximately from $65,800 to $81,600 while serving as executive officer.
Flanagan concealed the stolen funds by logging onto the association’s accounting and bookkeeping software with another employee’s account, entering backdated transactions to account for the stolen funds and entering false transaction codes. When confronted, he claimed he was reimbursing himself for association-related expenses that were paid out-of-pocket, creating phony expense reports to back his fraud.
“He allegedly stole money and then went to extraordinary lengths to cover it up, going so far as fabricating fake personas to mislead those who questioned his conduct,” said US Attorney Leah B. Foley. “This alleged scheme was calculated on every level.”
Gov. Maura Healy called on Flanagan to resign, saying the allegations “cast doubt on his ability to faithfully serve.”
Photo courtesy of Rep. Flanagan’s Instagram page
