Laz
08-19-2005, 09:47 AM
Indictment Alleges Wire Fraud By Former Congressional Candidate
Aug 17, 2005, 04:24 PM
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) -- A former Republican congressional candidate was accused Wednesday of using campaign money to cover a check for a down payment on his house -- then putting the money back into his campaign accounts with the full knowledge of the seller.
Adam Taff, 40, who lost the 2004 Republican primary and also ran unsuccessfully as the GOP candidate for the Kansas 3rd District seat in 2002, was indicted on one count of mail fraud and one of violating the Federal Election Campaign Act.
John D. Myers, 48, of Leawood, was indicted on one count of mail fraud.
The indictment alleged that while Taff was working for Myers' Overland Park mortgage company in 2003 and 2004, the two hatched a scheme to defraud a Kansas City, Mo., mortgage company.
The paperwork, prosecutors said, falsely claimed that Taff had made a $300,000 down payment on a $1.2 million house he was buying from Myers in the suburb of Lake Quivira. The indictment claimed that Taff and Myers never intended for Myers to receive the $300,000.
The indictment also alleges that Taff falsely represented his campaign accounts as his personal holdings on his loan application, although he had loaned his campaign more than $125,000 of his own money, and that he claimed more than double his actual monthly income of $6,500.
U.S. Attorney Eric Melgren's office said Taff and Myers met with a closing agent at a title company, who altered the $300,000 check to make it appear payable to the title company and faxed a false closing statement to the other mortgage company. After that, the indictment alleges, Taff took the check and returned the money to his campaign accounts.
The second count accuses Taff of converting about $175 in campaign donations from outside sources to personal use.
Taff and Myers could get 30 years if convicted on the wire fraud charge. The finance violation carries a maximum prison term of five years.
Neither immediately returned voice mail messages left Wednesday by the associated press.
Aug 17, 2005, 04:24 PM
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) -- A former Republican congressional candidate was accused Wednesday of using campaign money to cover a check for a down payment on his house -- then putting the money back into his campaign accounts with the full knowledge of the seller.
Adam Taff, 40, who lost the 2004 Republican primary and also ran unsuccessfully as the GOP candidate for the Kansas 3rd District seat in 2002, was indicted on one count of mail fraud and one of violating the Federal Election Campaign Act.
John D. Myers, 48, of Leawood, was indicted on one count of mail fraud.
The indictment alleged that while Taff was working for Myers' Overland Park mortgage company in 2003 and 2004, the two hatched a scheme to defraud a Kansas City, Mo., mortgage company.
The paperwork, prosecutors said, falsely claimed that Taff had made a $300,000 down payment on a $1.2 million house he was buying from Myers in the suburb of Lake Quivira. The indictment claimed that Taff and Myers never intended for Myers to receive the $300,000.
The indictment also alleges that Taff falsely represented his campaign accounts as his personal holdings on his loan application, although he had loaned his campaign more than $125,000 of his own money, and that he claimed more than double his actual monthly income of $6,500.
U.S. Attorney Eric Melgren's office said Taff and Myers met with a closing agent at a title company, who altered the $300,000 check to make it appear payable to the title company and faxed a false closing statement to the other mortgage company. After that, the indictment alleges, Taff took the check and returned the money to his campaign accounts.
The second count accuses Taff of converting about $175 in campaign donations from outside sources to personal use.
Taff and Myers could get 30 years if convicted on the wire fraud charge. The finance violation carries a maximum prison term of five years.
Neither immediately returned voice mail messages left Wednesday by the associated press.