The city of San Diego’s Ethics Commission announced Friday that an $80,000 fine was levied against the co-owner of a La Jolla luxury car dealership, who pleaded guilty in federal court to eight misdemeanor counts of campaign finance crimes.
That pales in comparison to the $800,000 in federal fines faced by Marc Alan Chase, 52, who could be sentenced to up to eight years behind bars Nov. 13.
On Thursday, Chase admitted guilt to charges that included conspiracy, aiding and abetting contributions by a foreign national and making a “straw” contribution in connection with a federal campaign.
The Ethics Commission said its fine, which Chase agreed to, stems from laundering or facilitating the laundering of $156,000 of campaign funds from Azano. Of that money, $120,000 went to the San Diegans in Support of Bob Filner for Mayor 2012 Committee and $30,000 was earmarked for the San Diego County Democratic Party, according to the commission.
The agency said Chase also solicited donations for a committee backing the reelection of District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, and that he repaid his workers with money received from Azano.
The city’s election laws prohibit donations made under someone else’s names since it’s a way of circumventing donation limits.
“Campaign money laundering is among the most egregious violations of the city’s campaign laws,” said John O’Neill, the commission’s vice chairman. “The stiff penalties imposed today should serve as an important reminder that anyone who participates or assists in the laundering of contributions in city elections will be held accountable.”
In making his guilty plea in federal court, Chase conceded hat he conspired with Mexican businessman Jose Susumo Azano Matsura and Azano associates Ravneet Singh, Ernesto Encinas and Marco Polo Cortes to make several illegal contributions involving various campaigns for elective office, including the 2012 mayoral campaigns of Filner and Dumanis and the congressional campaign of Rep. Juan Vargas.
It is illegal for non-U.S. citizens to contribute to political elections.
Commission Executive Director Stacey Fulhorst said the case has been under investigation since last August. The Ethics Commission has been cooperating with the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office, she said.
– City News Service
