Dean Tran

{{short description|American politician}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Dean Tran | honorific_suffix = | image = Dean Tran.jpg | caption = | image_size = | alt = | office = Massachusetts Senate Assistant Minority Whip | term_start = 2019 | term_end = March 26, 2020<ref name=lowellsun>{{citation |title=Senate Committee on Ethics finds that Sen. Dean Tran violated campaign regulations |date=March 26, 2020 |url=https://www.lowellsun.com/2020/03/26/senate-committee-on-ethics-finds-that-sen-dean-tran-violated-campaign-regulations/ |work= Lowellsun.com }}</ref> | state_senate1 = Massachusetts | district1 = Worcester and Middlesex | term_start1 = December 6, 2017 | term_end1 = January 6, 2021 | predecessor1 = Jennifer Flanagan | successor1 = John J. Cronin | office2 = Member of the Fitchburg City Council | term_start2 = 2005 | term_end2 = 2017 | birth_date = | birth_place = Saigon, Vietnam | party = Republican | spouse = Kerry A.Tran | children = 4 | alma_mater = Brandeis University | website = [http://www.deantran.com www.deantran.com] }}

'''Dean A. Tran''' is an American politician from Fitchburg, Massachusetts, who was elected to the Massachusetts Senate in 2017 in a special election. He represented the Worcester and Middlesex District, and is a Republican. Before his election to the Massachusetts Senate, Tran was a member of the Fitchburg City Council. In 2022 he was found guilty of Legal Issues including Ethic Violations, Fire Arms Violations and 20 counts of Federal Wire Fraud.<ref>{{cite press release| publisher= irs.gov| date=February 7, 2025| title=Former Massachusetts state senator sentenced to 18 months in prison for COVID and tax fraud| author=newsroom| url=https://www.irs.gov/compliance/criminal-investigation/former-massachusetts-state-senator-sentenced-to-18-months-in-prison-for-covid-and-tax-fraud}}</ref>

== Early life == Tran was born in Saigon, since renamed Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam into a successful business family. He emigrated with his family to the United States at the age of 4. After fleeing Vietnam by boat, Tran’s family spent two years in a refugee camp in while waiting for their application for green cards to be approved. In 1980, he and his family were sponsored by a Catholic priest in Clinton, Massachusetts, which he calls his first real home. In 1986, his family relocated to Fitchburg, Massachusetts where he graduated from Fitchburg High School. Tran continued his education, earning a bachelor's degree from Brandeis University in 1997.<ref name=maleg>{{Cite web|url=https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/dat0/Biography|title=Senator Dean A. Tran}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.brandeis.edu/magazine/2018/summer/class-notes/alumni-profiles/tran.html|title = Game Changer}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegram.com/story/news/local/north/2018/03/03/fitchburgs-dean-tran-continues-to-defy-odds-as-freshman-senator/13425159007/|title=Defying odds}}</ref>

== Political career == In 2005, Tran became the first person of color elected to the Fitchburg City Council.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thegardnernews.com/story/news/politics/elections/local/2020/10/23/sen-dean-tran-and-challenger-john-cronin-have-economic-priorities/42872751/|title=Tran and Senate challenger Cronin have economic priorities}}</ref> On December 5, 2017, after 12 years as city councilor, Tran won a special election to replace outgoing state senator Jennifer Flanagan for State Senate representing the Worcester and Middlesex district, by less than 700 votes.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/breakingnews/ci_31504076/gops-dean-tran-wins-special-election-state-senate|title=GOP's Dean Tran wins special election for state Senate seat by over 600 votes|last=Burke|first=Amanda|date=December 5, 2017|work=Sentinel & Enterprise|access-date=June 22, 2018}}</ref> He ran as an advocate for fiscal discipline and low taxes. Tran is the first Vietnamese American to hold an elected office in Massachusetts.<ref name=bostonglobe-202112>{{Cite web|last=Stout|first=Matt|date=2021-12-08|title=Former state senator accused of unethical behavior moves toward Congressional run - The Boston Globe|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/12/08/metro/former-state-senator-accused-unethical-behavior-moves-toward-congressional-run/|access-date=2022-01-22|website=The Boston Globe}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Dean_Tran|title=Dean Tran}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/candidates/view/Dean-Tran/|title=PD43+ » Candidate Profile}}</ref>

On December 20, 2017, Tran was officially sworn in to the State Senate. His senatorial district comprises Berlin, Bolton, Precincts 1 & 2 of Clinton, Fitchburg, Gardner, Lancaster, Leominster, Lunenburg, Sterling, Townsend and Westminster in north central Massachusetts. Tran was re-elected in the general election in November 2018, but he lost re-election in the 2020 general election to Democrat John Cronin, also by less than 700 votes.<ref name=leominsterchamp>{{Cite web|url=https://www.leominsterchamp.com/story/news/politics/elections/local/2020/11/04/2-communities-outstanding-cronin-declares-victory-over-tran/6154298002/|title=John Cronin wins Worcester & Middlesex Senate seat over incumbent Dean Tran|access-date=2021-09-11|archive-date=2021-02-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213050532/https://www.leominsterchamp.com/story/news/politics/elections/local/2020/11/04/2-communities-outstanding-cronin-declares-victory-over-tran/6154298002/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On February 2, 2022 Tran officially kicked off his campaign to challenge Lori Trahan in the 2022 Midterm election for the 3rd congressional district.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lowellsun.com/2022/02/08/former-state-senator-to-challenge-lori-trahan-in-midterms/|title = Former state senator to challenge Lori Trahan in midterms|date = 8 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2022/02/03/lucas-ex-state-sen-dean-tran-is-ready-for-his-state-house-comeback/|title = Lucas: Ex-state Sen. Dean Tran is ready for his State House comeback|date = 3 February 2022}}</ref> Tran lost against Trahan by a sizable majority in the election, garnering only 36% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web |title=2022 U.S. House General Election - 3rd Congressional District |url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/154347/ |access-date=4 December 2022 |website=Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts}}</ref>

=== Leadership and Committees ===

* Former Assistant Minority Whip * Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security (ranking Minority member) * Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight * Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government * Joint Committee on Transportation (ranking Minority member) * Joint Committee on Higher Education * Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs * Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy

== Legal issues == === Senate Ethics Committee rules === Tran was stripped of his leadership post, as assistant minority whip, in March 2020 after the Senate Ethics Committee ruled he violated ethics and campaign rules by having staffers work on his 2018 re-election campaign while on state time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/04/21/metro/mass-senator-dinged-ethics-inquiry-forms-legal-defense-fund/|title=Mass. Senator dinged in ethics inquiry forms legal defense fund - the Boston Globe|website=The Boston Globe}}</ref><ref name=lowellsun /> He subsequently lost re-election in November of the same year. In September 2022, at the request of the Attorney General, he was charged by the Suffolk County District Attorney with two counts of violating state ethics laws.<ref name=leominsterchamp /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Former State Senator Dean Tran Indicted On Two Counts Of State Ethics Law Violations {{!}} Mass.gov |url=https://www.mass.gov/news/former-state-senator-dean-tran-indicted-on-two-counts-of-state-ethics-law-violations |access-date=2023-11-18 |website=www.mass.gov |language=en}}</ref>

=== Multiple Firearms Charges === On July 1, 2022, Tran was indicted on multiple firearms charges stemming from an incident when he allegedly stole a firearm from an elderly woman and lied to investigators about it.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wwlp.com/news/crime/former-massachusetts-state-senator-charged-with-intimidating-elderly-woman/|title = Former Massachusetts State Senator charged with intimidating elderly woman}}</ref> Tran filed suit in federal court on July 27, 2022 against Attorney General of Massachusetts Maura Healey, alleging the case against him is politically motivated by a partisan Democratic political figure.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://commonwealthmagazine.org/criminal-justice/tran-sues-healey-over-criminal-charges-of-stealing-a-constituents-gun/ | title=Ex-senator Tran sues Healey over criminal charges of stealing a constituent's gun | date=27 July 2022 }}</ref> Tran pled "absolutely not guilty" on all charges on July 28, 2022.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2022/07/28/former-state-sen-dean-tran-pleads-not-guilty-to-criminal-charges-related-to-alleged-fraud-gun-deal/ | title=Former state Sen. Dean Tran pleads not guilty to criminal charges related to alleged fraud gun deal | date=28 July 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/08/15/opinion/maura-healey-odd-prosecution-dean-tran/ | title=Maura Healey and the odd prosecution of Dean Tran - the Boston Globe | website=The Boston Globe }}</ref>

In June 2023, Tran's home was raided by the FBI as part of a federal investigation unrelated to the firearm charges. This led to his arrest on November 17, 2023 on 25 federal wire fraud charges for fraudulently claiming $30,000 in COVID-19 unemployment benefits, as well as well as three counts of willfully filing false tax returns.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/06/22/metro/fbi-raided-fitchburg-home-one-time-congressional-candidate-former-state-senator-dean-tran/ |work=The Boston Globe |date=22 June 2023 |access-date=23 June 2023 |last=Gross |first=Samantha |title=FBI raided Fitchburg home of one-time congressional candidate, former state senator Dean Tran}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-17 |title=District of Massachusetts {{!}} Former Massachusetts State Senator Arrested for COVID Fraud {{!}} United States Department of Justice |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/former-massachusetts-state-senator-arrested-covid-fraud |access-date=2023-11-18 |website=www.justice.gov |language=en}}</ref>

=== Federal Wire Fraud === In September 2024, he was convicted of 20 counts of wire fraud and three counts of filing false tax returns.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-12 |title=District of Massachusetts {{!}} Former Massachusetts State Senator Convicted of COVID and Tax Fraud {{!}} United States Department of Justice |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/former-massachusetts-state-senator-convicted-covid-and-tax-fraud |access-date=2025-01-29 |website=www.justice.gov |language=en}}</ref> He was then sentenced to 18 months in prison.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-07 |title=District of Massachusetts {{!}} Former Massachusetts State Senator Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for COVID and Tax Fraud {{!}} United States Department of Justice |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/former-massachusetts-state-senator-sentenced-18-months-prison-covid-and-tax-fraud |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=www.justice.gov |language=en}}</ref>

In January 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that Tran had been sentenced to an additional year in prison for obstruction of justice and making false statements.<ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/former-massachusetts-state-senator-sentenced-one-year-prison-obstruction-justice-and |access-date=2026-02-02 |website=www.justice.gov}}</ref>

== Personal life == Tran is married to his wife Kerry. They have four children: Isabelle, Olivia, Madilyn, and Dean. In his spare time, Tran likes to spend time with his family and is a volunteer coach for youth soccer, basketball, and baseball.<ref name=maleg /> Before being elected to the state senate, he served on the Corporator Board for the Central Massachusetts YMCA, and the Board of Trustees for Mount Wachusett Community College.<ref name=maleg /> Tran continues to help families in need as Tran and staff were able to raise monetary donations to purchase food and Christmas gifts for the Perez children as well as give hundreds of dollars to the family to use for expenses.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/2021/01/11/perez-family-receives-help-from-former-state-sen-dean-tran/|title=Perez family receives help from former state Sen. Dean Tran and staff|date=11 January 2021}}</ref>

Tran's daughter, Olivia, ran for a vacant Fitchburg City Council Ward 6 seat in November 2021. She earned 46% of the vote, but lost the election.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/2021/11/02/dinatale-wins-another-term-as-fitchburgs-mayor/|title=DiNatale wins another term as Fitchburg's mayor|date=3 November 2021}}</ref>

== References ==  {{Reflist}}

== External links == * [http://www.deantran.com/ Dean Tran for State Senate] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808073855/https://www.deantran.com/ |date=2022-08-08 }} * [https://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/77264/dean-tran Dean Tran's Biography] - Project Vote Smart * [https://twitter.com/senatordeantran?lang=en/ Dean Tran's Twitter (@SenatorDeanTran)] * [https://commonwealthmagazine.org/state-government/tran-linked-to-police-investigation/ Tran linked to police investigation]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tran, Dean}} Category:Living people Category:21st-century members of the Massachusetts General Court Category:American people convicted of mail and wire fraud Category:American politicians of Vietnamese descent Category:Asian-American state legislators in Massachusetts Category:Asian conservatism in the United States Category:Brandeis University alumni Category:Candidates in the 2022 United States House of Representatives elections Category:American city council members of Vietnamese descent Category:Massachusetts city council members Category:Politicians from Fitchburg, Massachusetts Category:Republican Party Massachusetts state senators Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Massachusetts politicians convicted of crimes Category:Vietnamese emigrants to the United States

Dean Tran

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