U.S.

Department of Justice

Loretta E. Lynch
United States Attorney
Eastern District of New York
271 Cadman Plaza East
Brooklyn, New York 11201

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 3, 2014

Contact:

Zugiel Soto
United States Attorneys Office
(718) 254-6865

PRESS RELEASE

TEXAS-BASED POLITICAL CONTRIBUTOR PLEADS GUILTY TO
EVADING FEDERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION LIMITS

Earlier today, Diana Durand pleaded guilty to violating the Federal Election
Campaign Act (FECA) by funneling campaign contributions through straw donors to the
campaign committees of two candidates running for federal office. The guilty plea proceeding
was held before Senior United States District J udge Sterling J ohnson, J r., at the United States
Courthouse, 225 Cadman Plaza East, Brooklyn, NY.
The guilty plea was announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for
the Eastern District of New York and George Venizelos, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal
Bureau of Investigation, New York Office (FBI).
The defendant admitted to the Court that during the 2010 election cycle, she
recruited straw donors who made political campaign contributions in excess of $10,000 to the
campaign committees of two candidates for the House of Representatives, who are identified in
the indictment as Candidate A and Candidate B. The defendant also admitted that in furtherance
of this criminal activity, she either made advance payments to the straw donors who made the
contributions, or reimbursed them after they made the contributions.
United States Attorney Lynch stated: We and our partners in the FBI are
committed to protecting the integrity of the electoral process and will aggressively pursue
anyone who attempts to circumvent federal campaign financing laws. Enforcement of these laws
ensures that all candidates compete on a level playing field and that the public knows the true
source of a candidates campaign funds.
Ms. Lynch expressed her grateful appreciation to the Public Integrity Section of
the Department of J ustice for its assistance throughout the investigation and prosecution of
Durand.
2
The maximum term of imprisonment for the crime to which Durand pleaded
guilty is two years.
The governments case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys
Anthony M. Capozzolo, Robert L. Capers, and Marisa Megur Seifan.
The Defendant:
DIANA DURAND
Houston, Texas
Age: 48

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