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A perennial failed candidate from Queens used “straw donors” in a bid to rip off the city’s Campaign Finance Board, Manhattan federal prosecutors charged yesterday.
Albert Baldeo, an immigration attorney and Queens Democratic district leader from Richmond Hill, was also accused of intimidating the pseudo-donors into not talking when the feds started asking questions about his 2010 City Council bid.
Baldeo, a Guyanese immigrant, allegedly gave his “donors” cash and money orders to make campaign contributions, thereby triggering the release of public matching funds, authorities said.
“Albert Baldeo was so focused on securing a position with the New York City Council that he was willing to break the law to increase his chances,” said Manhattan US Attorney Preet Bharara.
Baldeo, who was released with no bail, was charged in Manhattan federal court with two counts of conspiracy, one count of fraud and one count of obstructing justice. Each charge carries up to 20 years in prison.
“This case represents another example of overreaching by prosecutors,” said his attorney Henry Mazurek.
Baldeo, 52, lost the special election to replace Councilman Thomas White Jr., who died in office. He earlier also failed in a 2006 state Senate race and a 2009 Assembly bid.
He also lost a 2005 council race that drew headlines after he was arrested on charges that he pulled a gun on a rival. The charges were later dropped.
Baldeo, whose district leader post is unpaid, sought to turn $15,000 from his own bank account into $90,000 by using the straw donors.
“These were nothing more than funds drawn from his own bank account, disguised as donations from others,” said Mary Galligan, the FBI’s acting assistant director in New York.
The city matches many donations six dollars to every one dollar.
As The Post first reported in 2010, Baldeo, who has political ties to Rep. Greg Meeks and state Sen. Joseph Addabbo, tipped off investigators by claiming donations from people who denied ever giving.
Prosecutors allege that he recruited an employee of his brother, Dr. Philip Baldeo, a prominent Democratic donor himself, to be a straw donor.
Baldeo allegedly gave him $1,500 and had him purchase two money orders — one for $1,000 and another for $375 — then make them out to his campaign.
He allegedly pulled the same scam with several other people, some of whom agreed to testify against him.
As the feds closed in on him in early 2011 he allegedly started threatening “donors” not to talk.