The indictment includes five counts of wire fraud and one count of falsification of records.
Flanagan, 37, a Democrat representing the First Barnstable District, was first elected to the state House in 2022. He allegedly misappropriated funds from the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Cape Cod (HBA), where he served as executive officer from 2019 to mid-2024.
Prosecutors alleged that between November 2021 and January 2023, Flanagan transferred funds from HBA’s accounts to cover personal debts, including mortgage and credit card payments, and to finance his 2022 campaign for state representative.
In one instance, Flanagan is accused of using $10,000 of HBA funds to support his campaign. Additionally, he allegedly spent association funds on personal items such as men’s clothing, an air conditioner, and psychic services.
“Today’s charges against Massachusetts State Representative Christopher Flanagan reveal an appalling breach of public trust,“ U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley said in a press release. ”This alleged scheme was calculated on every level. No one is entitled to power by way of fraud, and the people of Massachusetts deserve better.”
According to the indictment, Flanagan allegedly used HBA’s bookkeeping software under another employee’s login to backdate transactions and mislabel expenses. He submitted falsified expense reports to justify the withdrawals, including one that listed T-shirts for his political campaign as office supplies.
The HBA is a professional trade association representing the Cape Cod building industry and includes over 300 members. Flanagan had signatory authority over the association’s bank accounts and earned an annual salary ranging from $65,800 to $81,600 during his tenure, according to the DOJ press release.
During his tenure as a state legislator, he received an annual compensation of approximately $97,546 and $100,945 in 2023 and 2024 from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, according to the documents.
The indictment further stated that during a 2022 investigation by the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance into a campaign mailer, Flanagan created a fictitious persona, “Jeanne Louise,” to mislead investigators about the mailer’s origin. Flanagan later admitted to fabricating the identity, according to the indictment.
Neither Flanagan nor his attorney responded to requests for comment on the charges before publication.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud and falsification of records, along with fines up to $250,000 per count.
