FBI arrests Fil-Am ex-candidate over alleged NYC campaign fraud

NEW YORK — The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested a Filipino American who ran for New York City Public Advocate last year over alleged fraud involving campaign funds.

Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn, New York charged Fil-Am Angela Aquino with allegedly attempting to obtain $1 million in public matching funds from the New York City Campaign Finance Board through wire fraud.

According to a statement released by the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Aquino allegedly manipulated campaign finance records by inflating deposits into her campaign account and submitting falsified contribution documents to make her campaign appear qualified for the city's public matching funds program.

According to US Attorney Joseph Nocella, Aquino's personal bank account received more than $130,000 from the Philippines during the early part of 2025, including at least $34,000 in loans.

Prosecutors alleged that Aquino and several associates repeatedly withdrew cash from her personal account and deposited it into the campaign account while falsely representing in records that the funds came from qualified donors residing in New York City.

Aquino was also accused of routing money through the bank accounts of friends and associates to inflate the campaign's total deposits and allegedly conceal the true source of the funds.

In New York, a Public Advocate is a non-voting member of the city council who can introduce and co-sponsor legislation.

New York City's Matching Funds Program

The New York City Campaign Finance Board (CFB) offers a voluntary public financing program that matches small-dollar contributions from New York City residents to candidates running for city office. The program is available to all candidates for city office, including Public Advocate.

To qualify for matching funds, candidates must meet a two-part fundraising threshold: they must collect a minimum number of contributions worth at least $10 each and raise a required number of qualifying donations from New York City residents. A Public Advocate candidate must raise at least $125,000 from at least 500 qualified contributors to become eligible for the program. Cash contributions are also capped at $100 per contributor for matching fund eligibility purposes.

To count cash contributions toward eligibility, campaign committees were required to submit contribution cards to the CFB containing the contributor's name, address, employer, occupation, contribution details, and signature.

Candidates were prohibited from providing false information to the CFB and from using public matching funds for illegal or improper purposes. Violations would render candidates ineligible for public matching funds.

Once a candidate qualified, the CFB would provide matching public funds at a rate of $8 for every $1 raised. Thus, if a candidate raised $125,000, the campaign could receive up to $1 million in public matching funds.

If convicted, Aquino faces up to 20 years in prison.

GMA News Online has reached out to Aquino for comment, but she has yet to respond as of posting time. She is scheduled to appear before US Magistrate Judge Clay Kaminsky in Brooklyn federal court. — VDV, GMA News