FEC fines $65,500 in GOP fundraising scheme

12/28/2008

COLUMBUS, Ohio The Federal Elections Commission has imposed $65,500 in fines on seven people involved in a former Republican fundraiser s scheme to funnel illegal contributions to President Bush s re-election campaign.

Tom Noe was convicted of making $45,000 in illegal contributions to Bush s 2004 campaign. He served a 27-month federal prison sentence and was fined $136,200.

The former coin dealer is currently serving an 18-year state prison sentence for an unrelated conviction of theft and other crimes in in a $13.7 million scandal at the Ohio Bureau of Worker s Compensation.

Records show the FEC determined that 24 people participated in the fundraising scheme. Noe was not fined because he has already served prison time for the conviction.