State Sen. Dean Tran scandal deepens as sister admits fake job offer cover-up
The sister of disgraced former Massachusetts state Sen. Dean Tran pleaded guilty in federal court to obstruction of justice after admitting she helped cover up a fake job offer used to fraudulently reinstate her brother’s unemployment benefits.
Tuyet T. Martin, 56, of Pelham, New Hampshire, admitted Wednesday that she provided Tran with a sham job offer and later lied to a federal grand jury about it. Prosecutors say the scheme was designed to deceive unemployment officials and federal investigators.
Martin owned and served as CEO of Alecon Enterprises Inc., a New Hampshire-based food company. She admitted the job offer letter she provided to Tran was not legitimate and was created solely to help him regain unemployment benefits after they were suspended.
Federal authorities uncovered the fake job offer while investigating Tran’s broader unemployment and tax fraud activity.
Fake job offer and false statements
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Tran submitted the fraudulent job offer letter to unemployment officials while attempting to reinstate benefits after his state Senate term ended in 2021.
When questioned by federal investigators, Tran falsely claimed the letter had been authored and signed by his sister. In reality, prosecutors say Tran helped draft the letter himself and signed Martin’s name to it before submitting it.
Martin later testified before a federal grand jury in July 2023 and admitted she lied about the origins of the job offer.
Prosecutors described the actions as a deliberate effort to mislead investigators and obstruct a federal investigation.
Tran’s fraud convictions and sentence
Tran was arrested in November 2023 and charged in a 28-count federal indictment for fraudulently collecting pandemic unemployment benefits and committing tax crimes.
He pleaded guilty last month and is scheduled for sentencing on January 30.
Federal prosecutors say Tran collected more than $30,000 in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits while simultaneously working as a paid consultant for a New Hampshire-based auto parts retailer.
He also failed to report nearly $55,000 in consulting income on his 2021 federal tax return and withheld thousands of dollars in rental income from a Fitchburg property between 2020 and 2022.
Tran is currently serving an 18-month federal prison sentence following his 2024 conviction on 23 felony counts related to tax and COVID benefit fraud.
After his release, he will serve two years of supervised release.
Tran has been ordered to repay $25,100 to the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance, $23,327 to the Internal Revenue Service, pay a $7,500 fine, and a mandatory assessment totaling $2,300.
Additional state charges
In June, Tran also pleaded guilty to three state charges involving the theft of a firearm from an elderly constituent and misleading investigators during that case.
Sister faces sentencing
Martin now faces up to 20 years in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and a possible fine of up to $250,000. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 13.
Federal prosecutors said the case represents a serious abuse of public trust involving a former elected official and his immediate family.
