PROVIDENCE – Harold R. Taub of Cranston was sentenced to serve 36 months in prison and was ordered to pay $1.1 million in restitution following pleading guilty to campaign law violations, according to the U.S. Department of Justice this week. Taub was formerly a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in Rhode Island.
Taub solicited donations to an organization he called Keeping America In Republican Control, which purported to be a legitimate political action committee. He also started a PAC called Keeping Ohio in Republican Control. Taub solicited $1.6 million in contributions between the two organizations, but never registered the PACs with the Federal Elections Commission and did not make required reports to the FEC as a PAC would.
The PACs presented themselves as legitimate committees to support Republican candidates at the state and federal level. Instead, Taub used $1 million of his total $1.6 million of raised funds solely on personal expenses. He also fraudulently used the name of a former ambassador and high-level military officer without the knowledge and permission of the person, even after being instructed no to do so.
He pleaded guilty to wire fraud and willfully violating the Federal Election Commission Act.
