World Courant
A California Democrat who beforehand represented the Golden State within the Home of Representatives has been provided a plea deal on financial institution fraud, cash laundering and different federal expenses from 2022.
Terrance John “TJ” Cox, who represented California’s twenty first Congressional District from 2019 to 2021, faces a complete of 28 expenses — 5 greater than the variety of expenses going through former New York Republican Rep. George Santos, who was late expelled from Congress , is at the moment going through. final yr.
A listening to for Cox — whose plea deal was famous in court docket paperwork filed Wednesday — was initially scheduled for March 27, however was rescheduled for Might 22 as a result of “extraordinarily voluminous” quantity of digital paperwork, lots of of hundreds of economic paperwork and stories. and different proof that Cox’s legal professional will evaluate to evaluate the provide, the paperwork present.
Whereas particulars relating to the settlement weren’t instantly accessible, the paperwork confirmed that “the defendant has acquired and is contemplating the federal government’s settlement provide.”
FORMER DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN OF CALIFORNIA TJ COX ANNOUNCED FOR MONEY LAUNDERING AND FRAUD
Terrance John “TJ” Cox speaks throughout a gathering on the Titan Scholar Union on the campus of California State College, Fullerton in Fullerton on October 4, 2018. (Leonard Ortiz/Digital First Media/Orange County Register by way of Getty Pictures)
Mark Coleman, Cox’s legal professional, didn’t instantly reply to Fox Information Digital’s request for touch upon the case.
Cox surrendered to Federal Bureau of Investigation brokers in August 2022 and was concurrently launched on parole after showing nearly earlier than a federal choose. On the time, Cox was charged with 15 counts of financial institution fraud, 11 counts of cash laundering, one rely of economic establishment fraud and one rely of marketing campaign contribution fraud.
On the time of his arrest, prosecutors detailed within the 25-page indictment how Cox allegedly stole $1.7 million from shoppers and corporations he was related to between 2013 and 2018.
In a single case, Cox allegedly utilized for a $100,000 mortgage for one in every of his companies in April 2017, however didn’t repay the principal to the 2 traders.
“Greater than $40,000 of the mortgage was used for Cox’s private bills, together with non-public college tuition, bank card funds, mortgage funds and a $7,000 cost to Cox’s non-public political guide,” prosecutors wrote.
REMOVED GEORGE SANTOS ANNOUNCES BID TO RETURN TO CONGRESS AS INDEPENDENT
The overall variety of expenses going through Terrance John “TJ” Cox (left) exceeds the quantity confronted by former Republican Rep. George Santos (proper), who final December grew to become the primary Home of Representatives lawmaker to serve in additional than twenty years yr was plotted. (Getty Pictures)
When Cox ran for Congress within the 2018 elections, he allegedly organized greater than $25,000 in unlawful straw donations by financing or reimbursing relations and associates after they gave cash to his marketing campaign.
Cox can also be accused of offering falsified financial institution statements on a mortgage software and fraudulently acquiring a $1.5 million building mortgage to construct a leisure space in Fresno. That mortgage defaulted, leading to a lack of greater than $1.2 million, based on prosecutors.
The overall variety of expenses Cox faces exceeds that of Santos, who grew to become the primary Home lawmaker to be expelled in additional than twenty years following a vote by his then-colleagues final December.
Santos has not been convicted of a criminal offense, however he has been charged with 23 counts associated to financial institution fraud, identification theft, information falsification, bank card fraud and different expenses. Santos is accused of utilizing marketing campaign funds for quite a few luxurious items and coverings, reminiscent of Botox. He has pleaded not responsible.
The 311-114 vote to expel Santos from Congress was strongly bipartisan, though barely extra Republicans voted for him.
Santos — who represented New York’s third Congressional District — introduced Friday that he would make one other run in Congress to regain a seat within the Home of Representatives, however this time as an impartial candidate. He’ll run to unseat Rep. Nick LaLota, a Republican, who represents New York’s 1st Congressional District.
Former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., was expelled from the Home of Representatives in a vote by his colleagues final December. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Name, Inc)
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Cox, now 60 years outdated, flipped California’s twenty first Congressional District in 2018 however misplaced to Republican Rep. David Valadao by 862 votes in 2020.
Elizabeth Elkind of Fox Information contributed to this report.
Kyle Morris covers politics for Fox Information. Story ideas might be despatched by way of e mail and at X: @RealKyleMorris.
