Jesse Benton was a former Rep. Ron Paul's campaign staffer, and also worked for Sens. Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell.
He was convicted in 2016 of campaign finance offenses related to his participation on the Ron Paul campaign.
Trump pardoned Trump before he left office.
Business Insider: Daily selection of curated stories Loading Click to sign up for Insider marketing emails. You also agree to receive partner offers.
The US Department of Justice announced Monday that a former staffer to Senator Rand Paul was charged with funneling money from Russia into 2016's presidential election.
An indictment that was not sealed, dated September 9, alleges Jesse Benton "conspired" to funnel foreign money worth thousands of dollars from a Russian national into the campaign.
Benton was promised a $100,000 wire transfer by a Russian national in October 2016. The indictment says that Benton would meet a celebrity at a Philadelphia fundraiser on September 22, 2016.
Although the name of the candidate is not being released by the prosecution, former President Donald Trump hosted a fundraiser at the Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia, Center City.
According to indictment, the Russian national attended the fundraiser. His travel to the United States was facilitated by a co-conspirator, Roy Douglas Wead (a conservative author). Prosecutors claim that all three had official photos taken with Political Candidate 1.
They are accused of faking the contribution as payment for consulting work. According to the indictment, Benton kept $75,000 of the money. The remainder was donated in Benton's honor.
Benton, who was also responsible for Paul's 2010 campaign, was also convicted of fraud in campaign finance over his involvement in the 2012 Ron Paul presidential campaign. Benton was sentenced to two years probation days prior to the Philadelphia fundraiser and fined $10,000.
Trump pardoned Benton before he resigned from office.
Benton and Wead may be sentenced to significant imprisonment if they are convicted. Each of the six charges against them carries a sentence of five to 20 years behind bars.
Do you have a tip for the reporter? Send a tip to the reporter at cdavis@insider.com
