Latino Builders hit with $55,000 fine

Watchdog says funds laundered
By Bill Ainsworth
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
January 12, 2008

SACRAMENTO – The state's political watchdog agency has imposed a $55,000 fine against the Latino Builders Association for 11 counts of laundering contributions to candidates running for office in Chula Vista, National City and San Diego.

The association's director, Jose Mireles, engineered a scheme to evade campaign laws by directing employees and business associates to make contributions to candidates that were later reimbursed by the Latino Builders Association, according to the Fair Political Practices Commission.

The commission, which enforces state contribution and disclosure laws, imposed the maximum fine of $5,000 for each of the counts Thursday.

“Concealing the true source of campaign contributions is one of the most egregious violations of the Political Reform Act,” said Roman Porter, spokesman for the Fair Political Practices Commission. “Citizens have a fundamental right to know who's engaged in political activity.”