Posted on 09/24/2010 4:00:03 PM PDT by jazusamo
The founder and president of the PMA Group pled guilty Friday to making illegal campaign contributions and making false statements to a federal agency.
Paul Magliocchetti offered the plea in federal court in Arlington, Va. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 17.
The former lobbyist pleaded guilty to one count each of making false statements, making illegal conduit contributions and making illegal corporate contributions.
The now-defunct PMA Group came under scrutiny in early 2009 from both federal authorities and House ethics committee investigators over campaign contributions made to a number of veteran defense appropriations, including the late Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), the chairman of the Defense appropriations panel.
PMA was once one of the leading Defense firms in town, with close ties to members in both parties.
Federal authorities charged Magliocchetti with trying to increase his firms’s influence and power by making the illegal donations. But authorities determined the campaigns that received donations were not aware of Magliocchetti’s scheme, and no charges were brought against any lawmakers.
“For years, Mr. Magliocchetti, by using conduit contributors, hid the fact that he and his company were donating significant funds to campaigns in violation of the federal election laws,” said Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer in a statement.
Breuer said the lobbyist, in an effort to cover his tracks, used family, friends and business associates to secretly funnel hundreds of thousands of dollars to political campaigns.
Justice summarized the scheme in a release.
It said Magliocchetti was aware of the limits on individual federal campaign contributions and the ban on outright corporate contributions, but admitted that he instructed conduits to send money to campaigns. He then re-funded those people with either personal or corporate funds.
Magliocchetti also admitted he created and filed false reports with the Federal Elections Commission regarding those contributions.
The maximum penalty for making false statements to a federal agency and making illegal campaign contributions from a corporation is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, according to Justice.
Sure! Magliocchetti threw all that money around and got nothing in return and the elected officials knew nothing. Riiiight!
Ping!
Yeppers Murtha went and died, and that ended the money for him..
“Yeppers Murtha went and died, and that ended the money for him..”
THAT’S the ONLY way surrender murtha the EX Marine would stop stealing.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.