Puerto Rican governor charged in campaign finance probe
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Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila, 12 others charged in campaign financing probe

Acevedo faces 19 counts, including conspiracy, making false statements, wire fraud

Charges stem from probe of illegal campaign contributions


WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Puerto Rican Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila and 12 associates face charges related to the financing of three of Acevedo's campaigns, according to a federal indictment unsealed Thursday.


Puerto Rican Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila faces 19 counts stemming from a campaign finance probe.

Acevdeo faces 19 charges, including conspiracy, making false statements and wire fraud.

Acevedo, 48, and legal adviser Inclan Bird are accused of soliciting, accepting and reimbursing illegal "conduit contributions" from Acevedo's family and staff. Conduit contributions are those made by one person in the name of another.

In addition, "a group of Philadelphia-area businessmen solicited, accepted, and then reimbursed illegal conduit contributions from their own Philadelphia-area family members and staff" on behalf of Acevedo, a Justice Department news release said.

The governor also is accused of conducting unreported fundraising and making unrecorded vendor payments during his 2004 campaign "in order to raise and spend far more than the limited amount to which they had agreed," according to the release.

The charges relate to Acevedo's 1999-2000 and 2000-2002 campaigns for resident commissioner of the commonwealth of Puerto Rico as well as his 2004 gubernatorial campaign.

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