FBI Arrests Man Charged with Political Fundraising Fraud Using a Scam PAC

WASHINGTON - Jason Pallante, 52, of Orlando, Florida, was arrested today by special agents with the FBI and other law enforcement partners on charges he operated numerous political fundraising websites and illegally took the money for his own use. Pallante is charged with 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 head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division, and FBI Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the Washington Field Office.

According to the federal indictment, returned on December 10^th and unsealed today, Pallante operated the America Great PAC purportedly as a Super PAC. During the presidential primary season, Pallante created dozens of websites that claimed to support various specific candidates for President, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars. Pallante allegedly designed these websites to appear affiliated with a particular candidate or campaign, such as by using photos of the candidate, first-person language, and the same font as the campaign. Pallante also accepted checks made out directly to presidential candidates or their campaigns. Unbeknownst to the contributors, all of this money was directed to America Great PAC. Pallante did not use the money raised from these websites to support the advertised presidential candidates. Instead, Pallante allegedly used contributions to perpetuate the scheme and pay himself more than $162,000 in 2023 and $334,000 in 2024.

"Campaign finance scams - like the one alleged here - harm victims twice over, stealing their money and preventing them from using that money to support the causes and candidates of their choice," said U.S. Attorney Graves. "The Department and our Office will follow all the evidence and, with our law enforcement partners, prosecute these scams."

"Pallante allegedly defrauded voters who believed they were donating to presidential candidates, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for himself," said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Sundberg. "As his indictment demonstrates, the FBI will pursue charges against fraudsters who seek to line their pockets by exploiting donors' participation in the political process."

If convicted, Pallante faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Gold for the District of Columbia, and Trial Attorney Jacob R. Steiner of the Criminal Division's Public Integrity Section.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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