PAC Treasurer Pleads Guilty To Multi-Year Scheme To Defraud PAC Donors

Press Release PAC Treasurer Pleads Guilty To Multi-Year Scheme To Defraud PAC Donors Friday, January 10, 2025 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York Edward Y. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that ROBERT PIARO, the treasurer of multiple political action committees (“PACs”), pled guilty today to committing telemarketing wire fraud in connection with his scheme to defraud donors to his PACs through false and misleading statements. PIARO pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian. Acting U.S. Attorney Edward Y. Kim said: “Robert Piaro deceived hundreds of thousands of donors through false statements and misrepresentations about how contributions to his PACs would be spent. Piaro’s fraudulent actions not only undermined the trust of donors but also exploited their interest in supporting certain causes for his own personal gain. Today’s plea highlights this Office’s dedication to holding accountable those who misuse political organizations to defraud and mislead the public.”According to the allegations in the Indictment, court filings, and statements made in Court:PACs are entities registered with the Federal Election Commission that may be tax-exempt and collect money to advocate on behalf of or against certain causes and political candidates. From at least in or about 2017 up to and including at least in or about December 2022, PIARO was the treasurer and operator of four PACs: Americans for the Cure of Breast Cancer, the Association for Emergency Responders & Firefighters, the US Veterans Assistance Foundation, and Standing By Veterans (the “PIARO PACs”). PIARO raised millions of dollars from hundreds of thousands of donors nationwide through false statements and misrepresentations about how contributions to the PIARO PACs would be spent. For example, at PIARO’s direction, the PIARO PACs misrepresented to donors that donations would be used to advance specific legislation, educate lawmakers, and conduct and fund research, when PIARO did not and did not intend to follow through on those representations. If you believe you are a victim of fraud perpetrated by PIARO, please contact [email protected] or the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) at 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.govLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link., and find more information here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/united-states-v-robert-piaro.* * *PIARO, 74, of Fredonia, Wisconsin, pled guilty to one count of wire fraud in connection with telemarketing, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. PIARO is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Subramanian on April 14, 2025.Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI. This case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebecca T. Dell and Jane Kim are in charge of the prosecution. Contact Nicholas Biase, Shelby Wratchford(212) 637-2600 Updated January 10, 2025 Topic Public Corruption Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 25-007

Press Release PAC Treasurer Pleads Guilty To Multi-Year Scheme To Defraud PAC Donors Friday, January 10, 2025 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York Edward Y. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that ROBERT PIARO, the treasurer of multiple political action committees (“PACs”), pled guilty today to committing telemarketing wire fraud in connection with his scheme to defraud donors to his PACs through false and misleading statements. PIARO pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian. Acting U.S. Attorney Edward Y. Kim said: “Robert Piaro deceived hundreds of thousands of donors through false statements and misrepresentations about how contributions to his PACs would be spent. Piaro’s fraudulent actions not only undermined the trust of donors but also exploited their interest in supporting certain causes for his own personal gain. Today’s plea highlights this Office’s dedication to holding accountable those who misuse political organizations to defraud and mislead the public.”According to the allegations in the Indictment, court filings, and statements made in Court:PACs are entities registered with the Federal Election Commission that may be tax-exempt and collect money to advocate on behalf of or against certain causes and political candidates. From at least in or about 2017 up to and including at least in or about December 2022, PIARO was the treasurer and operator of four PACs: Americans for the Cure of Breast Cancer, the Association for Emergency Responders & Firefighters, the US Veterans Assistance Foundation, and Standing By Veterans (the “PIARO PACs”). PIARO raised millions of dollars from hundreds of thousands of donors nationwide through false statements and misrepresentations about how contributions to the PIARO PACs would be spent. For example, at PIARO’s direction, the PIARO PACs misrepresented to donors that donations would be used to advance specific legislation, educate lawmakers, and conduct and fund research, when PIARO did not and did not intend to follow through on those representations. If you believe you are a victim of fraud perpetrated by PIARO, please contact [email protected] or the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) at 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.govLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link., and find more information here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/united-states-v-robert-piaro.* * *PIARO, 74, of Fredonia, Wisconsin, pled guilty to one count of wire fraud in connection with telemarketing, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. PIARO is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Subramanian on April 14, 2025.Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI. This case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebecca T. Dell and Jane Kim are in charge of the prosecution. Contact Nicholas Biase, Shelby Wratchford(212) 637-2600 Updated January 10, 2025 Topic Public Corruption Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 25-007