Report: Legislator a cybertheft target in theft of $150K
Cybercriminals stole more than $150,000 from the campaign account of U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls last year, according to a report that found the Richmond Republican was the victim of wire fraud.
The theft came by way of a $157,626 payment last July to an entity called Misty J Productions, which does not appear to exist. Nehls’ campaign has since recovered $137,626 of the money, according to campaign finance records.
“There was an unauthorized wire transfer initiated through fraudulent means on our campaign account,” a Nehls spokesperson told Raw Story, the outlet that first reported the news.
Nehls’ campaign finance reported an “unauthorized payment” to Misty J Productions on July 7, then recouped $21,605.38 later that month. The campaign recovered another $116,021 on Sept. 30, according to Nehls’ campaign finance reports.
The matter has been “submitted to the FBI for criminal investigation,” according to Nehls’ office. The Federal Election Commission also recently sought “further clarifying information” from Nehls about the transactions.
Nehls, a former Fort Bend County sheriff, is serving his second term in Congress. His district was among the most competitive in the state before Republicans redrew it to include more GOP voters in last year’s redistricting process, expanding the boundaries out to brightred Matagorda and Wharton counties southwest of Houston.
Days into his term, Nehls grabbed national attention for his role during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, when he was spotted in photos attempting to reason with rioters who were outside the House chamber. Nehls voted not to certify Arizona and Pennsylvania’s electoral votes for Biden, though he also called for those who stormed the Capitol to be prosecuted.