Dao Yin, a former New York State Assembly candidate, has been indicted on charges of wire fraud via a complaint unsealed in a Brooklyn federal court. The accusations against Yin stem from his alleged submission of falsified campaign donations to illicitly claim over $160,000 in public matching funds from New York State. This was part of a ploy to benefit his 2024 campaign efforts. Yin was apprehended and is set for arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Vera M. Scanlon, as per an announcement by U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr. of the Eastern District of New York and other federal officials.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York, Yin allegedly took advantage of the state's Public Campaign Finance Program, designed to support candidates through small donations from local residents in eligible districts. It is claimed that Yin's committee submitted forged contributions, listing names and purported signatures of contributors who had not actually donated. "As alleged, the defendant, a former candidate for public office, submitted forged campaign contribution cards from members of the very community he hoped to represent, to fraudulently obtain thousands of dollars in public matching funds that he was not entitled to receive," Nocella outlined in his statement. The integrity of election financing is a central concern in cases like this, and the office remains committed to safeguarding it.
The New York State Public Campaign Finance Program provides a structure for candidates to draw on public funds, given that they comply with numerous requirements including a threshold number of contributions. This incentive is in place to foster a more equitable and accessible political playing field. Yin’s involvement as the treasurer of his campaign committee was crucial, as he was responsible for submitting the fraudulent information that led to the improper allocation of funds meant to democratize the formidable financial landscape of election campaigns.
If convicted, Yin faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison due to the seriousness of the charges. The case is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Public Integrity Section in coordination with the Public Integrity Section of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Grubin, along with DOJ Trial Attorney Lina Peng and Rebecca Schuman, are leading the prosecution, with support from Paralegal Specialist Daniel Arakawa.
According to law enforcement, including the FBI, efforts remain focused on identifying and addressing corruption and fraudulent practices that could impact the integrity of campaign finance and the broader democratic process.
