The Justice Department stated Tuesday that former Californian Rep. TJ Cox, a Democrat, is facing more than two dozen criminal charges related to what federal prosecutors described as several fraud schemes and campaign contribution fraud.
According to the Justice Department, Cox, who served one term, was charged in a 28-count indictment in federal district court in California with 15 charges of wire fraud, 11 counts of money laundering, one count of financial institution fraud, and one count of campaign contribution fraud.
Cox was chosen to serve in the 21st Congressional District of California in 2018, but he was defeated by Republican David Valadao in 2020. He was detained on Tuesday, according to court documents.
Federal prosecutors said that Cox’s “many” fraud schemes targeted the businesses with which he was associated as well as their customers and suppliers. He is charged with opening secret, illegal bank accounts and transferring money there using “false representations, pretences, and promises.”
According to the Justice Department, Cox gained more than $1.7 million via two distinct fraud schemes that he allegedly carried out between 2013 and 2018 by misappropriating customer money as well as business loans and investments.
Federal prosecutors claim that Cox also reportedly made many false claims to lenders in order to get mortgage loan funding for the purchase of a house, which he falsely claimed would be his main residence and…
