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Date: 03-08-2023
Case Style:
United States of America v. Lynda Bennett
Case Number: 1:23-cr-00030
Judge: Christopher R. Cooper
Court: United States District Court for the District of Columbia (Washington County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: United States Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C.
Defendant's Attorney:
Description: Washington, D.C. criminal defense lawyer represented Defendant charged with violating the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) by accepting a conduit campaign contribution.
Lynda Bennett, 65, of Maggie Valley, North Carolina, was a primary candidate for North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District in 2020. In late December 2019, Bennett borrowed $25,000 from a family member, representing that she needed the money for personal expenses because she had to spend a large amount of her own money on her campaign. The day after depositing the loaned money into a personal account, Bennett then caused $80,000, including the $25,000 in loaned funds, to be transferred to the bank account of Lynda Bennett for Congress (LBC), her authorized federal campaign committee. Under the FECA, Bennett was required to report a loan from a third-party individual as a campaign contribution. Bennett knowingly and willfully violated the FECA by reporting through LBC that the full $80,000 was a loan to her campaign using her own personal funds, rather than disclosing that $25,000 of that amount was a loan from another individual.
Bennett pleaded guilty to one count of accepting contributions in the name of another. She is scheduled to be sentenced on June 20.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia, and Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Washington Field Office investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Ryan R. Crosswell of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Rothstein for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda R. Vaughn for the District of Columbia provided assistance.
Outcome: 03/08/2023 Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Christopher R. Cooper as to LYNDA BENNETT on 3/8/2023. Defendant arraigned on Information and sworn. Defendant enters a Plea of Guilty as to Count 1 (sole count) of the Information. The Court accepts the Plea and the Defendant is found Guilty. Presentence investigation report ordered. Sentencing Memorandum due by 6/13/2023. Sentencing set for 6/20/2023 at 10:00 AM in Courtroom 27A (in person) before Judge Christopher R. Cooper. Defendant sworn to the conditions of pretrial release. Bond Status of Defendant: personal recognizance; Court Reporter: Jeff Hook; Defense Attorney: Kearns Davis; US Attorneys: Joshua Seth Rothstein and Ryan Crosswell; Pretrial Officer: Shay Holman. (lsj) (Entered: 03/08/2023)
03/08/2023 8 PLEA AGREEMENT as to LYNDA BENNETT (lsj) (Entered: 03/08/2023)
03/08/2023 9 STATEMENT OF OFFENSE by USA and LYNDA BENNETT(lsj) (Entered: 03/08/2023)
03/08/2023 10 WAIVER OF INDICTMENT by LYNDA BENNETT. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 3/8/2023. (lsj) (Entered: 03/08/2023)
03/08/2023 11 WAIVER of Trial by Jury as to LYNDA BENNETT. Approved by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 3/8/2023. (lsj) (Entered: 03/08/2023)
03/08/2023 12 ORDER Setting Conditions of Release as to LYNDA BENNETT on personal recognizance. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 3/8/2023. (lsj) (Entered: 03/08/2023)
03/08/2023 13 ORDER FOR ROUTINE PROCESSING as to LYNDA BENNETT. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 3/8/2023. (lsj) (Entered: 03/08/2023)
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: