An Orlando man has been arrested on charges of devising a fraudulent political fundraising operation, the FBI has disclosed. Jason Pallante, 52, is accused of setting up numerous political fundraising websites and pocketing donor money meant for presidential campaigns. According to an indictment returned on Tuesday and unveiled by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Pallante is facing a slew of mail and wire fraud charges.
Pallante, reportedly running the America Great PAC during the presidential primaries, created a network of websites that appeared to back multiple presidential candidates. These sites used images of candidates, campaign-specific fonts, and candidate-aligned language to solicit funds from unsuspecting donors. In actuality, the donations were funneled to America Great PAC and, ultimately, into Pallante's accounts. In the process, he amassed over $162,000 in 2023 and $334,000 in 2024 for personal use, authorities allege. As U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves stated, "Campaign finance scams – like the one alleged here – harm victims twice over, stealing their money and preventing them from using that money to support the causes and candidates of their choice, " as per U.S. Attorney's Office.
FBI Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg condemned the operation, asserting, "Pallante allegedly defrauded voters who believed they were donating to presidential candidates, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for himself." The Department of Justice reports that the FBI is deeply committed to pursuing those who exploit the political process for financial gain. If Pallante is found guilty, he could serve up to 20 years in prison per count.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Gold and Trial Attorney Jacob R. Steiner are handling the prosecution, showing a strong commitment to addressing political fundraising fraud. It's important to remember that an indictment is just an allegation, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
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