Ex-NYC Fil-Am candidate charged in alleged $1-M matching funds racket

NEW YORK - Federal agents arrested a Filipino American former New York City Public Advocate candidate over an alleged scheme to illegally obtain $1 million in taxpayer-funded campaign money.

Fil-Am Angela Aquino was charged by federal prosecutors in Brooklyn with wire fraud after authorities accused her of manipulating campaign finance records to qualify for New York City’s public matching funds program.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, Aquino allegedly inflated deposits into her campaign account and submitted fake contribution documents to make it appear that she had enough legitimate donors to receive public funds.

Investigators said Aquino’s personal bank account received more than $130,000 from the Philippines in early 2025, including at least $34,000 in loans.

Prosecutors alleged that Aquino and several associates repeatedly withdrew cash from her personal account and funneled the money into her campaign account while falsely claiming the funds came from qualified New York City donors.

Authorities also accused Aquino of moving money through the bank accounts of friends and associates to allegedly hide the true source of the funds and artificially increase campaign deposits.

Under New York City’s Matching Funds Program, candidates can receive $8 in public funds for every $1 raised from qualified small donors. To qualify, candidates for Public Advocate must raise at least $125,000 from 500 eligible contributors.

Federal prosecutors said Aquino was not entitled to receive the matching funds because of the alleged fraudulent contributions and falsified records.

If convicted, Aquino could face up to 20 years in federal prison.