Babulal Bera Pleads Guilty to Campaign Finance Scheme

S. Cal Man Pleads Guilty to Campaign Finance Scheme

A 83-year-old La Palma, California man has pleaded guilty to making excessive campaign contributions and making campaign contributions in the name of another in a bid to influence the outcome of his son’s congressional campaigns.

Babulal Bera, who pleaded guilty in Sacramento before U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley in the Eastern District of California, admitted to making the maximum allowable individual contributions to his son’s campaigns in California’s District 3 in 2010 and District 7 in 2012.

However, Bera took his scheme a step further by soliciting friends, family members and acquaintances to make contributions, which he then reimbursed with his own funds to make campaign contributions in excess of the contribution limits established by federal law. The government has identified over 130 improper campaign contributions involving approximately 90 contributors in the two elections.

The scheme resulted in over $220,000 in reimbursed contributions relating to the 2010 campaign and over $40,000 in reimbursed contributions relating to the 2012 campaign. Bera is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Nunley on Aug. 4.

The investigation was led by the FBI, with the assistance of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of California and the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Vincent and Philip Ferrari are prosecuting the case.

Bera’s actions are a stark reminder of the importance of campaign finance laws and the need for transparency in political contributions. The guilty plea serves as a warning to others who would seek to exploit the system for personal gain.

The case is a significant victory for the public and a testament to the commitment of law enforcement agencies to root out corruption and ensure the integrity of the electoral process.