FITCHBURG – A local man and former state senator convicted in September 2024 for fraudulent collection of Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and tax charges pleaded guilty to additional charges on Friday, Dec. 19.
Dean Tran, 50, of Fitchburg, pleaded guilty to single charges of Obstruction of Justice and Making False Statements in September 2024. He is serving an 18-month sentence in federal prison.
A federal grand jury indicted both Tran and his sister, Tiyet Martin, in June 2024, for the most recent charges.
According to federal prosecutors, while investigating the prior charges, federal agents questioned Tran at his home while executing of a search warrant. During questioning, agents asked him about a letter he submitted to the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) to get benefits reinstated that were suspended.
Prosecutors say that during that interview, Tran made false statements to federal agents, including that Martin authored the letter. Tran revised the letter before sending it to DUA. He also said that Martin signed the letter when he signed her name to it.
The charge of obstruction of justice provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of false statements provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000.
