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Boston Developer Indicted Over Donations to Lawmakers

Federal prosecutors indicted a Boston developer Tuesday on charges that he illegally funneled campaign contributions to federal lawmakers.

According to a copy of the indictment released by the Justice Department, Martin Raffol used his position as executive vice president of WinnCompanies, which is not identified by name in the document, to pressure contractors doing business with the development company to make campaign contributions. He is also accused of illegally bundling the donations for delivery to selected campaigns and of reimbursing the donations.

“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 allegedly directed Raffol to solicit campaign contributions from vendors who regularly did work for the company,” the Justice Department said in a statement on the indictment.

According to the Justice Department, Raffol channeled more than $12,000 in illegal campaign donations to federal candidates, including Reps. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and Mike Capuano (D-Mass.). The lawmakers have not been charged with wrongdoing.

Raffol also funneled more than $30,000 in contributions to state and local lawmakers. He is not charged in connection with those contributions, however.

The Boston Globe reported Tuesday that WinnCompanies fired Raffol following his indictment.

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