Brooklyn Borough President candidate’s treasurer receives community service sentence for involvement in straw donor scheme.
Erlene King, a 72-year-old treasurer for a candidate in the Brooklyn borough president race, has been sentenced to 200 hours of community service and three years of probation for her involvement in a failed straw donor scheme aimed at defrauding the city of significant public matching funds. The sentencing took place in Brooklyn Federal Court, presided over by Judge Carol Bagley Amon, following King’s guilty plea to charges of wire fraud in January 2025.
King was affiliated with the 2021 primary election campaign of Democrat Anthony Jones. While federal sentencing guidelines suggested a term of 33 to 41 months in prison, prosecutors opted not to recommend a specific incarceration period for King, emphasizing her age and health concerns during the proceedings.
In her defense, King’s attorney argued against imprisonment, citing her advanced age and poor health as mitigating factors. He contended that incarceration would serve no purpose and would constitute a form of cruel and unusual punishment, given her circumstances. The defense further maintained that King posed no risk to society, as her likelihood of reoffending was extremely low.
Prosecutors alleged that King intended to exploit the city’s campaign finance program, which matches small donations at an advantageous rate of 8-to-1. By submitting ,000 in straw donations to support Jones’ campaign along with fictitious records, King sought to secure approximately 0,000 in matching funds. She utilized CashApp to facilitate these transactions, routing funds through individuals who would donate to the campaign. However, the New York City Campaign Finance Board identified irregularities in the funding sources and ultimately denied the requested matching funds.
The practice of using straw donors is typically intended to obscure the identities and contributions of affluent donors, thus enabling candidates to circumvent established contribution limits. It is noteworthy that Anthony Jones, while associated with this scheme, has not been charged with any crime. In the 2021 Democratic primary, he secured just 3% of the vote, finishing eighth among twelve candidates.
This case highlights ongoing concerns regarding campaign finance transparency and integrity, as authorities continue to scrutinize practices that undermine the electoral process. The outcome of King’s case reflects a balance between accountability and consideration of individual circumstances in the legal system.
For more information on campaign finance regulations and related topics, visit the official New York City Campaign Finance Board website.
