FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	CRM

THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 1998	(202) 616-2777

				TDD (202) 514-1888




CHARLIE TRIE AND ASSOCIATE INDICTED





	Attorney General Janet Reno announced that the Justice Department's Campaign Finance
Task Force yesterday secured the indictment of DNC fundraiser Charlie Trie, 49 and his business
associate Antonio Pan, 50.  The fifteen-count indictment, returned by a grand jury in the District
of Columbia, charges Trie and Pan with a variety of crimes related to fundraising activities.




	Trie also is charged with obstruction of justice based on allegations that he instructed an
employee to destroy documents which had been subpoenaed by both the Senate Committee on
Governmental Affairs and a grand jury.  According to the indictment, Trie was aware at the time
he issued the instruction that the Senate Committee and the grand jury were investigating
allegations of campaign financing violations.  




	"This is an important step forward in addressing campaign finance abuses associated with
the 1996 election," said Reno.




	The indictment was returned yesterday, but was not released until today.  Federal
prosecutors originally sought to seal it for law enforcement reasons, but dropped their request
today once it was reported widely in the media.




	Title 2 U.S.C.§ 441e of the federal election laws prohibits foreign nationals from making
contributions in connection with the nomination and election of candidates to political office. 
The law also prohibits any person from making a contribution in the name of another person (2
U.S.C. § 441f) and requires political committees to identify to the FEC every person making a
contribution in excess of $200.




	Treasurers of political committees are required to file periodic reports of receipts and
disbursements with the FEC (2 U.S.C. § 434).  The FEC relies on those reports in enforcing the
campaign financing laws and when making available to the public information about the amounts
and sources of political contributions to federal candidates and their political committees.

(MORE)


	As set forth in the indictment, Trie and Pan arranged for a series of straw or conduit
contributions to the DNC, whereby money was contributed in the name of one person and then
secretly reimbursed in cash by Trie or Pan.  Although DNC policy precluded all foreign and
conduit contributions, Trie and Pan funnelled such money into the DNC through a scheme of
secret reimbursement and false reporting.




	Between his personal contributions and the money he solicited, Trie was credited with
bringing over $600,000 to the DNC.  According to the indictment, much of this money was
foreign sourced or obtained through conduit contributions.  The amount of money raised earned
Trie a position as Trustee of the Democratic Party.  Trustees are awarded benefits and privileges
including administrative assistance by the DNC, access to White House officials, White House
tours, invitations to White House events and membership on DNC committees and related
entities.




	The indictment alleges that Trie obtained these benefits from the DNC by means of false
and fraudulent pretenses, since he would not have been made a Trustee if he had reported that the
source of much of the funding was illegal.  According to the indictment, Trie's status as a Trustee
and his access to high level government officials was used to promote the defendants' business
interests.  




	The indictment also charges Trie and Pan with conspiring to commit wire fraud and to
defraud the United States by impeding the FEC from performing its lawful functions.  According
to the indictment, foreign and conduit contributions were solicited and that information was
withheld from DNC campaign treasurers whose reports were submitted to the FEC.  The FEC
was thereby impeded from carrying out its responsibilities, including the institution of civil
enforcement actions concerning campaign financing violations and making available to the
public specific information about the amounts and sources of political contributions to federal
candidates and their political committees.  




	Trie and Pan are charged with several counts of wire fraud based on the wire transfer of
money among bank accounts in the United States to reimburse the conduit contributors.  The
mailing of a check payable to the DNC forms the basis of a mail fraud charge against Trie.  Trie
is also charged with three counts of aiding and abetting the filing of false statements.  These
charges stem from the filing of false reports to the FEC by the DNC.  According to the
indictment, the DNC reports were based on misinformation provided by Trie. 




	Trie and Pan are both believed to be outside the country.  Federal arrest warrants have
been issued and both men are being sought by the FBI for arrest and extradition to the United
States.  The case will be prosecuted by the Campaign Financing Task Force, which now numbers
more than 120 attorneys, agents and other staff.  




	All charges made by the government are merely accusations, and all defendants are
presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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