Feds charge exec at failed luxury project tried to grease way for state, federal funds with illegal campaign contributions

The US Attorney's office reports on federal charges against Martin Raffol, an executive at the company that sought millions in state subsidies for its now failed $800-million Columbus Center project.

Raffol, apparently seeking a plea deal, pointed at pressure from his bosses at WinnCompanies to raise lots of political cash, the Globe reports. The FBI began looking into contributions from Winn executives to state and congressional candidates during its investigation into felonious state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson, who tried pushing tax breaks for Columbus Center through the legislature. Several Winn executives attended a Wilkerson fundraiser at which an FBI informant gave Wilkerson a bribe.

The Herald reports among the recipients of the allegedly tainted money were Reps. Capuano, Frank and Lynch as well as unspecified candidates for Boston mayor and Massachusetts governor.

According to the US Attorney's office:

It is alleged that, as part of an effort to increase the amount of campaign contributions to candidates who supported the company’s projects or who might support these projects in the future, executives and senior management directed Raffol to solicit campaign contributions from vendors who regularly did work for the company.

Raffol in turn allegedly engaged in an ongoing scheme whereby he reimbursed the vendors for thousands of dollars of campaign contributions he solicited from them. This included vendors who provided general contracting services, energy services, and security services. According to the Information, as a result of Raffol's scheme, the true source of these vendors' campaign contributions were disguised from the FEC, similar state authorities, campaign committees and ultimately, the public.