Phoenix, AZ (JUNE 14) - After two Sen. John McCain donors pleaded guilty to running an elaborate Ponzi scheme last week, the campaign of U.S. Senate Candidate J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ) pointed out that three additional alleged Ponzi scam artists have given money to McCain.
On the heels of McCain donors Scott Rothstein and Debra Villegas pleading guilty to involvement in a massive Ponzi scheme, Luis Felipe Perez turned himself in last week for running his own independent investment scam after he previously gave McCain money.
"Sen. McCain's penchant for political Ponzi profits is becoming a pathetic pattern," said Hayworth spokesman Mark Sanders. "It's not enough for him to say 'Aw, shucks, I didn't know I was taking money from felons, but I gave it back.' McCain needs to clean up his act and start acting like a United States Senator."
The Securities and Exchange Commission has charged Perez with running a $40 million Ponzi scheme that targeted the Hispanic community since 2006.
Perez ran a jewelry and pawn shop business and promised investors returns of anywhere from 18 to 120 percent a year through monthly payments. His political contributions went to Republicans, including $42,300 to McCain in 2007 and 2008.
Prior to charges against McCain donors Rothstein, Villegas and Perez, Sir Allen Stanford, a Ponzi scheme artist from Texas, gave money to McCain before being hauled off to prison.
The government alleges Stanford ran a massive off-shore $7 billion banking Ponzi scheme. He gave McCain $28,150. Stanford goes to trial next year.
In May of this year, Ponzi scheme artist Kenneth Starr, a financial advisor to celebrities, was charged with running a $30 million scam. He has given McCain $2,300.
Last week, attorney Rothstein and his chief operating officer Villegas both pleaded guilty to running an elaborate $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme. Rothstein was McCain's number one contributor in 2008, giving McCain $1.1 million.
"Mr. Campaign Finance Reform is becoming Mr. Dirty Money Man," Sanders said. "We all respect Sen. McCain's service to this country, but Washington has changed him. He's been there too long and is being financed by the wrong kind of people."
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