A Riverside, California potato baron has been indicted on charges of laundering tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions.
Owner of Agri-Empire Corp. and of the nation’s largest potato growers, James Larry Mino, 70, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of conspiracy in court on Wednesday last week.
Charges were brought against him by the California State Attorney General’s office. He is accused of illegally contributing over $40,000 to the Jeff Stone for Senate Campaign in 2009. Stone, a Riverside County supervisor, was unsuccessful in his bid.
Under state law, it is illegal to hide the source of campaign donations, but Minor made contributions in the name of his family members, friends, and business associates. The limit for the amount of money an individual donor that year was $3,900.
According to officials, there is no indication that Stone had knowledge of the dealings.
According to the attorney general’s office, Minor is also accused of perjury for allegedly filing a false statement in connection with his donations to Brenda Salas’s bid for state assembly in 2006. Minor had contributed a total of $26,400 under the names of others. The limit hat year was $3,300.
Owner of Agri-Empire Corp. and of the nation’s largest potato growers, James Larry Mino, 70, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of conspiracy in court on Wednesday last week.
Charges were brought against him by the California State Attorney General’s office. He is accused of illegally contributing over $40,000 to the Jeff Stone for Senate Campaign in 2009. Stone, a Riverside County supervisor, was unsuccessful in his bid.
Under state law, it is illegal to hide the source of campaign donations, but Minor made contributions in the name of his family members, friends, and business associates. The limit for the amount of money an individual donor that year was $3,900.
According to officials, there is no indication that Stone had knowledge of the dealings.
According to the attorney general’s office, Minor is also accused of perjury for allegedly filing a false statement in connection with his donations to Brenda Salas’s bid for state assembly in 2006. Minor had contributed a total of $26,400 under the names of others. The limit hat year was $3,300.
