NYC Gazette

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Christie M. Curtis, the Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), announced the unsealing of an indictment charging Michelle Bond with conspiring to cause and causing unlawful campaign contributions in connection with her unsuccessful run for Congress in 2022. Bond will be presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams stated: “As alleged, Michelle Bond and her co-conspirator romantic partner attempted to fund her campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives by illegally using hundreds of thousands of dollars from corporate coffers, among other sources, and then lying to Congress and others to cover it all up. Misconduct by those campaigning for public office undermines public trust in American elections and in representative government more broadly. This Office is committed to holding elected officials and candidates accountable if they break the law.”

FBI Acting Assistant Director Christie M. Curtis added: “Michelle Bond, a former congressional candidate, allegedly financed her campaign with illicitly obtained funds then made calculated efforts to conceal her misconduct, including lying to Congress about the deposits’ origin. Attempting to start a hopeful career in our government using unlawful transactions and lies erodes the integrity and credibility of our legislative system. Investigating all forms of corruption remains a top priority of the FBI, as those seeking to hold governing positions are expected to comport themselves honestly and transparently to preserve public confidence.”

According to the indictment:

In 2022, Bond—then a high-level executive at a digital assets trade group (the "Trade Group")—ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives representing New York’s first congressional district, which comprises the eastern portion of Long Island.

Shortly after launching her congressional campaign in May 2022, Bond’s romantic partner ("CC-1")—then a high-level executive at a Bahamas-based subsidiary of a now-defunct cryptocurrency exchange (the "Exchange")—orchestrated a sham consulting agreement between Bond and the Exchange under which Bond was paid $400,000. Bond then used that money to illegally finance her campaign. Between June and August 2022, CC-1 wired hundreds of thousands of dollars to Bond’s personal bank account, which she used to fund her campaign unlawfully. CC-1 was aware that his money was being used by Bond for large loans and contributions.

Bond's actions violated federal campaign finance laws prohibiting corporate contributions, excessive individual contributions, and conduit contributions. She attempted to conceal this conduct by making false statements to a congressional committee and the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and lying to her employer at that time. For example, in a financial disclosure form filed with the House Ethics Committee, she described the $400,000 Exchange payment as consulting income while acknowledging privately that she did not work for the Exchange but received money for her campaign.

Bond is charged with one count each of conspiracy to cause unlawful campaign contributions; causing and accepting excessive campaign contributions; causing and receiving an unlawful corporate contribution; and causing and receiving a conduit contribution. Each crime carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

The statutory maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress for informational purposes only; any sentencing will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Williams praised FBI's investigative work on this case handled by his office’s Public Corruption Unit with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Simon and Sheb Swett leading prosecution efforts.

The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations; Michelle Bond is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

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