December 12, 2024 – Washington – Jason Pallante, 52, of Orlando, Florida, was arrested on Wednesday by FBI agents and other law enforcement officials on charges of operating multiple fraudulent political fundraising websites and embezzling the funds for personal use. Pallante faces three counts of mail fraud and four counts of wire fraud.
The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, and FBI Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg.
The federal indictment, returned on December 10 and unsealed on Wednesday, states that Pallante ran the America Great PAC, falsely portraying it as a Super PAC during the presidential primary season. He created numerous websites, designed to appear as though they supported specific presidential candidates, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars. These sites used photos, language, and branding similar to the candidates’ campaigns, misleading contributors into thinking they were donating to the campaigns directly. Pallante also accepted checks made out to candidates or their official campaign committees, yet funneled the donations to his own PAC. Instead of using the funds to support the advertised candidates, Pallante allegedly paid himself more than $162,000 in 2023 and $334,000 in 2024, using the money to sustain his fraudulent operation.
U.S. Attorney Graves emphasized, “Campaign finance scams like this deprive donors of their ability to support the candidates and causes they care about, while also stealing from them.”
FBI Assistant Director Sundberg added, “Pallante allegedly defrauded voters who believed they were contributing to presidential candidates, instead lining his own pockets. The FBI will continue to pursue those who exploit the political process for personal gain.”
If convicted, Pallante could face up to 20 years in prison on each count. The sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge, taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
The FBI Washington Field Office is leading the investigation.
The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Gold and Trial Attorney Jacob R. Steiner of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section.
An indictment is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
