Former Massachusetts State Senator Dean Tran was sentenced to one year in federal prison for obstruction of justice and making false statements related to a fraudulent job offer and letter from his sister’s company. The sentencing took place in Boston federal court, where U.S. Senior District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV ordered that 11 months of the sentence will run concurrently with Tran’s current prison term, while one month will be served consecutively. Tran will also serve 18 months of supervised release.
Tran, 50, from Fitchburg, pleaded guilty in December 2025 to the charges after being indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2024 alongside his sister, Tuyet T. Martin. He is already serving an 18-month sentence following his conviction in September 2024 for fraudulently collecting Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits and failing to report consulting and rental income on his tax returns for three years.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley commented on the case: “This case is clear and simple. It is about entitlement. Entitlement to benefits Mr. Tran was not owed, entitlement to lie when confronted and entitlement to blame everyone but himself. Dean Tran did not only commit fraud; he lied, obstructed justice and tried to derail a federal investigation to protect himself. Even after being convicted, Dean Tran continued to deny responsibility for his actions,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “Today’s sentence makes one thing clear: if you think you can lie to federal agents, manipulate the system and obstruct justice – you are sorely mistaken. As we have said over and over, no one is above the law. Justice is blind to power, wealth and status.”
Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General at the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General stated: “This investigation underscores our continued commitment to protecting the integrity of the unemployment insurance system,” said Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. “Mr. Tran’s fraudulent receipt of pandemic unemployment benefits was compounded by false statements made to federal law enforcement during the execution of a lawful search warrant. Individuals who exploit critical benefit programs and attempt to obstruct investigations will be held accountable.”
Thomas Demeo from IRS Criminal Investigation added: “Today’s sentencing of Dean Tran demonstrates that lying to federal law enforcement officers is a serious offense,” said Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office. “Obstruction of justice, at a minimum, prolongs an investigation and costs the American taxpayers thousands of additional dollars. In these situations, obstruction can lead to the destruction or loss of evidence, allowing guilty parties to evade justice and deprive their victims of a fair and just outcome.”
Ted E. Docks from FBI Boston Division commented: “Anyone who obstructs a federal investigation is attempting to subvert the course of justice, and when a former Massachusetts State Senator does it, that’s even more egregious,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “The FBI and our partners will always seek to hold those foolish enough to try to interfere with our cases accountable because it is a direct threat to our entire system of justice.”
The investigation revealed that during execution of a search warrant at his home as part of ongoing inquiries into unemployment benefits fraud schemes involving tax issues as well as job offer misrepresentations by his sister’s company—Tran provided misleading information about authorship on an official letter submitted for reinstating suspended benefits; he claimed his sister authored it when he had revised it himself before submission—and falsely stated she signed it when he had done so.
Tuyet T. Martin pleaded guilty in January 2026 on one count related specifically toward obstruction charges; her sentencing is scheduled for May 13th later this year.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S Attorneys John T Mulcahy Lauren Maynard Dustin Chao from Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit.