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United States v. Robert Piaro

On August 17, 2023, the United States Attorney’s Office announced the unsealing of an indictment charging ROBERT PIARO with mail fraud and wire fraud in connection with his scheme to defraud donors while soliciting money for certain political action committees (“PACs”).  As charged, from at least in or about 2017 up to and including at least in or about December 2022, PIARO was the treasurer of four PACs: Americans for the Cure of Breast Cancer, the Association for Emergency Responders & Firefighters, the US Veterans Assistance Foundation, and Standing By Veterans (the “PIARO PACs”).  PIARO raised over $28 million from hundreds of thousands of donors nationwide through false statements and misrepresentations about how contributions to the PIARO PACs would be spent.  For example, at PIARO’s direction, the PIARO PACs misrepresented to donors that donations would be used to advance specific legislation, educate lawmakers, and conduct and fund research—when PIARO did not and did not intend to follow through on those representations.  PIARO was arrested on August 17, 2023, in Fredonia, Wisconsin.  The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian (Case No. 23 Cr. 420 (AS)).  The full press release and indictment are available here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/pac-fundraiser-and-pac-treasurer-charged-multi-year-schemes-defraud-donors.

As set forth in the Indictment, PIARO created and operated the following PACs, among others, between in or about 2017 through 2022:

       Americans For The Cure Of Breast Cancer
       The Association For Emergency Responders And Firefighters
       The US Veterans Assistance Foundation
       Standing By Veterans

 

Monday, October 21, 2024: Update

A change of plea proceeding has been scheduled in this matter for November 14, 2024, at 4:00 p.m., in Courtroom 15A at the U.S. District Courthouse located at 500 Pearl Street, New York, New York, 10007.

 

Monday, August 12, 2024: Update

A pretrial conference in this matter is scheduled for October 4, 2024, at 4:00 p.m., at Courtroom 15A at the U.S. District Courthouse located at 500 Pearl Street, New York, New York, 10007. 

 

Wednesday, December 20, 2023: Update

The pretrial conference previously scheduled for January 18, 2024, has been adjourned to May 16, 2024.  The proceeding will take place in Courtroom 15A at the U.S. District Courthouse located at 500 Pearl Street, New York, New York, 10007.

 

Wednesday, August 23, 2023: Update

On August 17, 2023, PIARO was presented before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the District of Wisconsin.  PIARO was bailed pending trial pursuant to certain bail conditions.

On August 23, 2023, PIARO was arraigned and appeared for an initial pretrial conference in the Southern District of New York.

The next pretrial conference for PIARO is scheduled for January 18, 2024.  The proceeding will take place in Courtroom 15A at the U.S. District Courthouse located at 500 Pearl Street, New York, New York, 10007.

Updates regarding the progress of this case will be posted on this site.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York is committed to protecting the rights of crime victims. If you believe you are a victim of the offenses charged, our Victim/Witness Unit can make sure that you are notified of important stages of the case to help you exercise your rights. In addition, our Victim/Witness Unit is available to answer questions you might have about this case and can refer you to available resources.

Federal crime victims have the following rights, as set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3771:

  1. The right to be reasonably protected from the accused.
  2. The right to reasonable, accurate, and timely notice of any public court proceeding, or any parole proceeding, involving the crime or of any release or escape of the accused.
  3. The right not to be excluded from any such public court proceeding, unless the court, after receiving clear and convincing evidence, determines that testimony by the victim would be materially altered if the victim heard other testimony at that proceeding.
  4. The right to be reasonably heard at any public proceeding in the district court involving release, plea, sentencing, or any parole proceeding.
  5. The reasonable right to confer with the attorney for the Government in the case.
  6. The right to full and timely restitution as provided in law.
  7. The right to proceedings free from unreasonable delay.
  8. The right to be treated with fairness and with respect for the victim’s dignity and privacy.
  9. The right to be informed in a timely manner of any plea bargain or deferred prosecution agreement.
  10. The right to be informed of the rights under this section and the services described in section 503(c) of the Victims’ Rights and Restitution Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 10607(c)) and provided contact information for the Office of the Victims’ Rights Ombudsman of the Department of Justice.

For information and assistance, please contact:

SDNY Victim and Witness Coordinator
United States Attorney's Office
One St. Andrew's Plaza
New York, New York 10007
1-866-874-8900

USANYS.PACFraud@usdoj.gov

Updated November 9, 2024