Paramus Man Gets Probation For Funneling $80K To Presidential Campaign

PARAMUS, N.J. — A Paramus man was sentenced Thursday to one year of probation for helping funnel $80,000 in campaign contributions from a foreign source to the joint fundraising committee of the President of the United States during the 2012 presidential election, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Bilal Shehu, 48, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo to willfully making such contributions, which is prohibited by federal law.

Shehu received money from "a foreign source," put it into his bank account and gave it to the committee to disguise its origin and so a foreign national could attend a campaign event with the President in October 2012 in San Francisco.

Federal law prohibits foreign nationals from making campaign contributions to federal candidates or fundraising committees. Shehu flew to San Francisco and tried to attend the fundraising event with the foreign national.

William Argeros, 58, of Tampa, Florida, was also charged in the scheme and pleaded guilty. His sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 14.

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