WASHINGTON _ Former Texas Republican Rep. Steve Stockman was formally indicted Tuesday evening on fraud, conspiracy and money laundering charges, the Justice Department announced.
Stockman, who retired after losing a 2014 primary challenge to Sen. John Cornyn, and aide Jason Posey were charged in a 28-count superseding indictment.
Among the charges were wire and mail fraud, conspiracy, making face statements to the Federal Election Commission, making excessive campaign contributions and money laundering. Stockman was also charged separately for filing a false tax return.
The indictment comes after former campaign worker Thomas Dodd reached a plea deal last week and said that he and Stockman colluded to use $775,000 to pay credit card bills and campaign expenses.
The indictment filed Tuesday says Stockman solicited $1.25 million in donations based on false pretenses, specifically using part of a $285,000 meant for charities to pay for his and Dodd's personal expenses and further his political ambitions.
The Justice Department also alleges that Dodd and Stockman used another $165,000 donation to help finance his congressional race in 2012.
The indictment said that Posey also used a nonprofit entity to secure a $450,571 donation to fund a mass-mailing campaign.
Instead, only half of the money was used on the campaign and the other half was used for Stockman's senate campaign expenses and to pay for personal expenses, the DOJ announcement said.
The indictment comes after Stockman was arrested earlier this month while boarding a plane in Houston. Stockman in turn blamed the "deep state" for his arrest.
