(USNewsBreak.com) – Straw donors illegally use other people’s money to make donations in their own names. The Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 prohibits this action, and authorities can charge violators with criminal conduct. The New York County District Attorney’s office recently indicted three people with ties to New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) on allegations of conducting a straw donor scheme, and one has since pleaded guilty and received his sentence.
DA Alvin Bragg’s office alleged that Dwayne Montgomery, a former police officer, acted as the scheme’s ringleader, funneling thousands of dollars into Adams’ campaign. Prosecutors theorized that he and his co-conspirators hoped to receive kickbacks and political favors from City Hall. However, the DA’s office caught and indicted Montgomery and his colleagues on several charges, including attempted grand larceny, making false statements, and conspiracy. Montgomery pleaded guilty to a reduced charge, misdemeanor conspiracy, in February. A court has since sentenced him to 200 hours of community service.
As part of his plea agreement, Montgomery must also pay $500 and refrain from any fundraising activities during a year-long ban.
The charges against Montgomery date back to 2020 and 2021, when Adams was seeking the mayoral office. The former NYPD deputy inspector helped organize fundraisers for the candidate but took advantage of New York City’s matching funds system by encouraging relatives and friends to make donations. The Big Apple matches the first $250 a donor contributes 8 to 1 with tax dollars, turning a $250 donation into a $2000 boon.
New York prosecutors implicated five others in the scheme in addition to Montgomery. While it benefitted Adams’ campaign, prosecutors never accused the mayor or his campaign of wrongdoing in the case.
However, Adams is facing other legal woes. Federal authorities opened an investigation to determine whether the mayor’s campaign conspired with Türkiye’s government to receive illegal donations from foreign sources. Federal investigators raided several of Adams’ aides’ homes and confiscated the mayor’s personal electronic devices, including his iPad and cell phones, as part of the ongoing probe. As with the other case, Adams denied any wrongdoing, and federal authorities have yet to level any formal charges.
Copyright 2024, USNewsBreak.com
