An 80-year-old Blythe man has been accused by federal prosecutors of setting up fake political action committees for candidates including Bernie Sanders, Beto O’Rourke and Andrew Gillum and pocketing the donations.
John Pierre Dupont is charged with wire fraud and identity theft, according to the LA Times.
Prosecutors say Dupont took in a quarter of a million dollars in contributions that donors thought was going to a dozen political candidates and their causes through websites he set up. One website claimed to be paying for efforts to aid immigrant families near the border.
Prosecutors say Dupont then used the money to pay his rent, settle parking and traffic tickets, and buy a $25,300 Mercedes-Benz sedan.
Dupont appeared in federal court in Arizona on Tuesday and posted $100,000 bail
