Former NYC council candidate known as ‘The Sperminator’ arrested on charges of forgery.
A former candidate for the New York City Council from Queens, Jonathan Rinaldi, was arrested on Wednesday, accused of disseminating counterfeit political endorsements and fabricating news articles using artificial intelligence to support his unsuccessful campaign for office. The arrest follows allegations from Queens prosecutors regarding his attempts to mislead voters during his campaign for the District 29 council seat, which he launched in January 2025.
Rinaldi, who has gained notoriety in local circles and is known colloquially as “The Sperminator,” is said to have fathered at least 12 children through sperm donation. He now faces serious charges, including forgery and possession of a forged instrument. According to the authorities, Rinaldi’s fraudulent activities began shortly after he declared his candidacy.
One significant incident occurred on October 20, 2025, when Rinaldi allegedly posted a modified endorsement sheet claiming that the Queens Jewish Alliance endorsed him. Prosecutors assert that the endorsement was erroneous, as the organization publicly supported his opponent, incumbent council member Lynn Schulman. Shortly after the misleading information came to light, Rinaldi was recorded discussing the situation with the head of the Queens Jewish Alliance. Prosecutors indicated that he expressed intentions to use every tactic at his disposal in his campaign against the establishment.
Despite the backlash, Rinaldi reportedly re-shared the forged endorsement on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram less than two weeks after its initial discovery. He is also accused of promoting endorsements from organizations prohibited from endorsing political candidates, including the NYPD’s 112th Police Precinct and P.S. 101, an elementary school in Forest Hills. These endorsements were presented through videos featuring police officers and children, despite none having any affiliation with the precinct or school.
In addition to the fabricated endorsements, Rinaldi allegedly circulated false news articles, including one that claimed Schulman had announced her withdrawal from the city council race. This misleading piece was initially shared on Facebook on October 24, 2025, accompanied by an image of Schulman sourced from Rinaldi’s Google Image drive. Furthermore, Rinaldi utilized the OpenAI app Sora to create a video featuring a fictitious news anchor delivering fabricated reports about Schulman’s supposed exit from the race.
Rinaldi has been ordered to return to court on August 19, where he could face a maximum sentence of two years in prison. The case raises significant concerns about election integrity and the emerging role of artificial intelligence in political campaigning, highlighting the potential for technology to be misused in efforts to manipulate voters. As this case unfolds, it underscores the critical importance of transparency and accountability in the electoral process.
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