CNN
—
A scam PAC operator first uncovered by CNN’s KFile pleaded guilty on Tuesday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering while operating two political action committees during the 2016 election and collecting more than $3 million from unwitting contributors.
Matthew Tunstall, 35, was one of three men the Justice Department charged with multiple counts of wire fraud, false statements and money laundering in perpetuating the scheme, which tricked unsuspecting donors into giving them money by using robocalls and written solicitations meant to imply they were supporting 2016 presidential candidates.
In reality, the PACs’ operators used the funds to enrich themselves and pay for more robocalls and radio advertisements, according to the Department of Justice and past KFile reporting.
Tunstall pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and to cause the PACs to make false statements to the Federal Election Commission, and one count of money laundering. He now faces a maximum of 25 years in prison and his sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge next year, according to a press release from the Justice Department.
The PACs’ activities were first uncovered by KFile in 2016 and 2017, first at BuzzFeed and later at CNN. Robert Reyes, who was also charged along with Tunstall, pleaded guilty in…
