Feds: Campaign cash paid off gambling debt

A campaign finance watchdog blasted state Rep. David Nangle’s alleged misuse of political donations, saying that fraudulent use of the money to pay off gambling debts and golf club dues “undermines the system.”

“These kinds of games that politicians play with campaign finances are the reason we have these laws in the first place,” said Aaron McKean, legal counsel at the Campaign Legal Center. “They are here to prevent exactly this kind of behavior because it undermines the system.”

Nangle, 59, of Lowell, was indicted on 10 counts of wire fraud, four counts of bank fraud, nine counts of making false statements to a bank and five counts of filing false tax returns Tuesday. A 21page indictment details several different methods Nangle allegedly used to cover up his campaign fund abuse, including buying $7,500 worth of gift cards from stores like CVS and Rite Aid that he reported as spending on supplies.

“Business records show that Nangle purchased Visa credit cards of up to $500 in value,” Lelling said in the indictment. “Gift cards that Nangle purportedly used for ‘supplies,’ were used to pay for shoes, clothing and golf fees, among other things, according to credit card records.”

Nangle has reported a total of $16,548 spent on supplies at stores like Amazon and CVS since 2002.

The Lowell Democrat also allegedly lied about his expenses, Lelling said. Nangle reported several payments to the Longmeadow Golf Club in Lowell, calling them payments toward catering or fundraiser services. Lelling alleges that the money actually went toward membership dues and other golf club fees.

Nangle charged his campaign for car rentals that he said were for traveling to the State House, but bank records show the state representative used the vehicles to go to casinos in Connecticut and New Hampshire, according to the indictment.

Nangle even made up a “straw vendor,” that he paid $1,500 for fundraising consulting, alleges Lelling. Instead, the fake vendor cashed Nangle’s campaign check and gave the money right back to Nangle.

“A lot of these expenses fall into a gray area, so the question becomes is there enough infrastructure in the state to make sure politicians are held accountable,” campaign finance watchdog McKean said.

“As a donor you expect your money is actually going to go towards the campaign. You don’t expect to see them try to line their own pockets,” McKean said.