George Santos’ campaign’s top official pleads guilty to federal crimes.
Nancy Marks Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges in Campaign Fraud Case
Nancy Marks, the former campaign treasurer for Rep. George Santos (R-NY), has pled guilty to multiple federal charges related to a fraudulent scheme aimed at boosting campaign support.
Marks admitted to committing wire fraud, making false statements, obstructing the administration of the Federal Election Commission, and engaging in aggravated identity theft, according to federal prosecutors said.
The Department of Justice revealed that Marks and the candidate collaborated on a scheme to deceive the FEC, a national party committee, and the public by inflating the campaign’s fundraising numbers. The purpose of this fraudulent activity was to ensure the candidate’s qualification for a program that would provide financial and logistical support.
During this election cycle, Marks and the candidate devised and executed a fraudulent scheme to obtain money for the campaign by submitting materially false reports to the FEC on behalf of the campaign in which they inflated the campaign’s fundraising numbers for the purpose of misleading the FEC, a national party committee, and the public.
Specifically, the purpose of the scheme was to ensure that the Candidate and his campaign qualified for a program administered by the national party committee, pursuant to which the national party committee would provide financial and logistical support to the Candidate and his campaign committee. To qualify for the program, the Candidate had to demonstrate, among other things, that his congressional campaign had raised at least $250,000 from third-party contributors in a single quarter.
To meet the financial requirements set by the Republican National Committee, Marks and Santos allegedly submitted false reports to the FEC, falsely claiming that family members had made contributions to the campaign. Additionally, they filed reports stating that Santos had loaned his campaign $500,000, despite not having the funds to do so.
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge James Smith emphasized the seriousness of Marks’ actions, stating, “Marks engaged in criminal conduct intended to deceive and defraud the American public. This guilty plea holds her responsible for those various fraudulent schemes and brazen misrepresentations.”
Santos himself was indicted earlier this year on 13 felony counts, including wire fraud, money laundering, making false statements to the House of Representatives, and theft of public funds.
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The FBI remains committed to investigating all allegations of campaign finance abuse to ensure transparency and fairness in our election process.
How did the fraudulent campaign scheme involve the creation of fictitious donors and false campaign contribution reports?
N order to falsely demonstrate widespread public support and increase the candidate’s chances of gaining access to financial resources,” stated Seth DuCharme, the Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.
The fraudulent scheme involved the creation of fictitious donors and the submission of false campaign contribution reports to the FEC. Marks, in her role as the campaign treasurer, knowingly provided false information and fabricated documents to support these deceitful claims. The inflated fundraising numbers gave the false impression that the candidate had substantial grassroots support and generated significant campaign contributions.
The scam also included the unauthorized use of individuals’ personal identifying information, resulting in aggravated identity theft charges against Marks. This further demonstrated the extent of the fraudulent activities and the lack of ethical conduct in this campaign.
“Political campaigns serve as the backbone of our democracy, and they must be conducted with integrity and transparency. The actions taken by Nancy Marks and the candidate undermine the fundamental principles of fair elections and harm the trust that the public places in our political system,” said DuCharme.
The consequences of Marks’ guilty plea are significant. Wire fraud and making false statements each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, while obstructing the administration of the FEC is punishable by up to five years in prison. Aggravated identity theft has a mandatory two-year prison term, which must be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed.
The investigation into this fraudulent campaign scheme was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). Assistant United States Attorney Whitman Knapp and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jihee G. Suh of the Public Integrity Section are prosecuting the case.
This case serves as a reminder that campaign fraud is a serious offense that undermines the very foundation of a democratic system. It is crucial for candidates, campaign staff, and all individuals involved in the political process to adhere to the highest standards of honesty and transparency. The public’s faith in the electoral system must be protected, and those who engage in fraudulent activities must be held accountable for their actions.
As Marks awaits sentencing, the political landscape continues to face challenges in maintaining its integrity. It is incumbent upon all individuals involved in the democratic process to prioritize honesty, fairness, and ethical conduct to ensure a system that upholds the values and principles upon which it was built.
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