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Listen to this articleA former congressional candidate has been charged in federal court in Manhattan with violating campaign finance laws, officials said.
Michelle Bond, who lost a primary election to Rep. Nick LaLota, (R-Amityville) in 2022 has been charged with conspiring to “cause and causing unlawful campaign contributions in connection with her unsuccessful run for Congress in 2022,” according to the office of Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.
“As alleged, Michelle Bond and her co-conspirator romantic partner attempted to fund her campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives by illegally using hundreds of thousands of dollars from corporate coffers, among other sources, and then lying to Congress and others to cover it all up,” Willians said in a news release about the charges.
“Misconduct by those campaigning for public office undermines public trust in American elections and in representative government more broadly,” he added. “This office is committed to holding elected officials and candidates accountable if they break the law.”
The indictment comes just days after former Rep. George Santos, a Republican, pleaded guilty in federal court in Central Islip to charges of a wire fraud and aggravated identity theft scheme. Santos was first indicted after questions emerged about his campaign finances. He now faces more than six years in prison under federal guidelines at sentencing in February and owes at least $370,000 in restitution.
Officials say that Bond in 2022 was a “high-level executive at a digital assets trade group,” when she ran for office. Shortly after launching her campaign, her romantic partner, ex-FTX executive Ryan Salame, according to published reports, “orchestrated a sham consulting agreement between Bond and the exchange,” after which Bond was paid $400,000.
She allegedly used the money “to illegally finance her campaign,” according to the news release.
“Michelle Bond, a former congressional candidate, allegedly financed her campaign with illicitly obtained funds then made calculated efforts to conceal her misconduct, including lying to Congress about the deposits’ origin,” FBI Acting Assistant Director Christie Curtis said in the news release.
“Attempting to start a hopeful career in our government using unlawful transactions and lies erodes the integrity and credibility of our legislative system. Investigating all forms of corruption remains a top priority of the FBI, as those seeking to hold governing positions are expected to comport themselves honestly and transparently to preserve public confidence.”
Bond has been charged with one count of conspiracy to cause unlawful campaign contributions; one count of causing and accepting excessive campaign contributions; one count of causing and receiving an unlawful corporate contribution; and one count of causing and receiving a conduit contribution.
Each of the crimes charged carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.