Richard L. Frey, 83, of Dunkirk, New York, was charged today in a 13-count indictment with 12 counts of wire fraud and one count of making a false statement to the FBI, officials said.
According to the indictment, from January 2003 through June 2012, this is what happened:
Frey allegedly received several campaign contributions from area businesses and businesspeople and then, instead of depositing the donations into his campaign accounts, either cashed the checks for his personal use or deposited the checks into his personal bank accounts.
The indictment further alleges that Frey concealed the existence of these campaign contributions by not reporting them on his campaign disclosure reports, as was required of local candidates for public office.
When asked about the scheme, Frey allegedly provided false information to the FBI, the indictment starts.
Frey is presumed innocent until proven guilty.