Former U.S. Rep. From Texas Indicted On 28 Criminal Counts

AUSTIN, TX — A federal grand jury indicted former U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman and an aide on Tuesday on charges they stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from charitable foundations for personal use, according to media reports.

Stockman, 60, and his former director of special projects, Jason Posey, 46, were both charged with 28 criminal counts — among them mail/wire fraud, conspiracy, making false statements to the Federal Election Commission, making excessive campaign contributions and money laundering, the Houston Chronicle reported. Additionally, Stockman also faces a charge of filing a false tax return and Posey is charged with falsifying a sworn statement to obstruct a federal elections investigation, the newspaper reported.

Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez in Houston categorized the indictment as "...a very significant case" in his brief statement: ""The indictment returned by the grand jury today is a significant case alleging serious violations involving use of official positions for personal gain. Violations of the public trust will not be tolerated," he said, as quoted by the Chronicle.

Related story: Former Congressman From Texas Jailed Amid Allegations Of Campaign Cash Misuse

Stockman was arrested earlier this month as he tried boarding an airplane headed to the United Arab Emirates. He's maintained his innocence, predicting vindication once the case concludes. But Thomas Dodd, a former special assistant in Stockman's congressional office, pleaded guilty to his own involvement in the scheme last week, the Chronicle noted.

The indictment lays out federal prosecutors' case, as the newspaper reported: Between from May 2010 and October 2014, Stockman allegedly secured some $1.25 million in donations on false pretenses before diverting nearly $285,000 donated to charitable causes to pay for his and Dodd's personal expenses. Moreover, Stockman and Dodd also are accused of receiving $165,000 in charitable donations, the lion's share of which Stockman spent to finance his 2012 congressional campaign.

Stockman served twice in the U.S. House in non-consecutive terms, but later lost a primary bid to unseat U.S. Sen. John Cornyn. The Chronicle reported that Posey and Dodd both served as Stockman's staff in Congress in 2013 but were fired that October after Stockman's office said they admitted to making illegal contributions to Stockman's campaign recorded under parents' names.

Stockman formerly represented the 36th district located in southeast Texas that encompasses the counties of Newton, Jasper, Tyler, Polk, Orange, Hardin, Liberty and Chambers in addition to portions of southeast Harris County encompassing the Johnson Space Center. The new district was created in the wake of the 2010 census, and Stockman emerged as the first candidate to run in his quest to represent the area.

He won the general election but then announced he wouldn't seek re-election in 2014 so he could challenge longtime incumbent Cornyn in the senatorial seat. He lost, and was succeeded in the U.S. House by Brian Babin.

Until now, Stockman is perhaps best known for his standing invitation to a rodeo clown donning a mask of Barack Obama to events, for having walked out of the former president's State of the Union address and for inviting right-wing rock musician Ted Nugent as a guest to another Obama State of the Union speech.

>>> Read the full story at Houston Chronicle

Official photo of Steve Stockman via U.S. Congress