Crime
The former state senator is currently serving an 18-month sentence in federal prison for a series of previous convictions.
Former State Sen. Dean Tran pleaded guilty Friday to attempting to cover up a fake job offer from his sister’s company, according to federal prosecutors.
Tran, 50, of Fitchburg, admitted guilt to one count each of obstruction of justice and making a false statement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts said in a statement. Tran and his sister, Tuyet Martin, were indicted in June 2024.
The former state senator was previously convicted by a federal jury in September 2024 and sentenced in February 2025 for fraudulently collecting pandemic unemployment assistance benefits and willfully omitting consulting and rental income from his tax returns in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Tran is currently serving an 18-month sentence in federal prison for those convictions, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
Federal law enforcement interviewed Tran at his residence as part of their ongoing investigation into his unemployment benefits and tax fraud schemes, prosecutors said. During the interview, agents asked him about a phony job offer letter that he sent to unemployment agency officials when he was attempting to have his benefits reinstated after they were briefly suspended.
Tran “made material misrepresentations” about the letter to federal law enforcement and claimed that Martin was the sole author of the letter when, in actuality, he had revised it before it was finalized for submission to unemployment officials, according to prosecutors. Tran also told agents that Martin’s signature appeared on the letter when he had in fact signed it himself.
For obstructing justice, Tran faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine, the U.S. Attorney’s office said. He also faces up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 for the false statements charge.
Tran’s sentencing date has not yet been set, according to prosecutors. The former state senator and Republican congressional candidate had several run-ins with the law prior to the June 2024 indictment.
During his term in the Massachusetts Senate from late 2017 to early 2021, Tran allegedly used members of his staff who were working for the Legislature to campaign for him while on state time and payroll. In September 2023, he was charged with two counts of violating the state ethics law.
In June 2019, Tran allegedly visited an elderly constituent and “used his position of trust” to coerce her into handing over her late husband’s firearms. He also allegedly made her sign a pre-written contract and paid her $1,500 for at least eight guns.
Though Tran returned the guns the next day, he allegedly forced his way into the constituent’s home while she was alone and stole a Colt .45 while she hid in her bedroom. When police interviewed Tran about the incident, he allegedly gave conflicting reasons for taking the guns, denying any type of firearms sale but later producing a sale contract for the guns.
In July 2022, Tran was charged with allegedly stealing the gun and misleading investigators who were looking into the matter. He also allegedly made false statements on a 2019 license-to-carry renewal application.
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