Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Making Illegal Campaign Contributions for the 2012 U.S. Presidential Election

A Windermere, Florida, man pleaded guilty today to illegally making political contributions in the names of others to a presidential candidate’s primary campaign committee, announced Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II of the District of Maine.

Michael A. Liberty, 56, pleaded guilty to one count of making political contributions in the names of others before U.S. District Judge D. Brock Hornby of the District of Maine.  

According to admissions made in connection with his guilty plea, between May and June 2011, Liberty made $22,500 in primary contributions through nine employees, associates and family members to the principal campaign committee of a candidate for President of the United States, when, in fact, Liberty paid for all of the contributions. 

The FBI investigated the case.  Trial Attorney Ryan J. Ellersick of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark of the District of Maine are prosecuting the case.