Former NYC Public Advocate candidate charged with wire fraud, accused of $1 million matching funds scheme
It started when more than $130,000, originating in the Philippines, was deposited into Aquino's personal bank account at the beginning of 2025.
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The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York says Angela Aquino, a former candidate for New York City Public Advocate, was charged with wire fraud for an alleged scheme to rack up $1 million in public matching funds through the New York City Campaign Finance Board.
Aquino, of Manhattan, was arrested Thursday.
Prosecutors say Aquino knew her campaign committee did not qualify for that amount and took various steps to make it appear they did. It started when more than $130,000, originating in the Philippines, was deposited into Aquino's personal bank account at the beginning of 2025.
Aquino and others made cash withdrawals from her account to deposit into her campaign committee's bank account, according to court documents.
Contribution cards were submitted with fake information to make it appear that the money came from an NYC resident and hide the true source of the cash.
Aquino allegedly cycled funds in and out of the campaign committee's bank account to make it seem like the total number of deposits was higher than it actually was, prosecutors say.
They say she also used money from the campaign committee's account for personal expenses, including her rent. Prosecutors say she lied to the CFB and said they were real campaign expenses.
“The defendant, a former candidate for citywide office, allegedly engaged in a months ’ long brazen scheme to obtain fraudulently $1 million in public funds, exploiting a matching funds program designed to reduce corruption in the city’s campaign finance system,” said Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. “Our Office will aggressively hold accountable would-be public officials out to steal taxpayer dollars.”
To meet the requirements to enroll in the matching funds program, a Public Advocate candidate must have raised at least $125,000 from at least 500 qualifying contributors, according to the CFB.
Prosecutors say Aquino's scheme aimed to make it seem like they met the $125,000 threshold.
If a candidate qualifies, the CFB says it would grant the campaign public matching funds at a rate of $8 to $1. This means that if Aquino did meet the criteria, the CFB would provide her with $1 million in public matching funds.
If convicted, Aquino faces up to 20 years behind bars.
