Campaign treasurer for political committees, Dem candidates, charged in $250K embezzlement scheme

A campaign treasurer and compliance officer who worked for Democratic candidates and progressive-aligned political committees pled guilty to three counts of wire fraud in a scheme that embezzled more than a quarter of a million dollars from victims.

The Montana U.S. Attorney’s office charged Abbey Lee Cook, of Helena, with three counts of wire fraud for allegedly obtaining money and property “by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations and promises,” and transferred them into accounts controlled by herself and through her business Abbey Lee Cook and Associates, LLC between September 2021 and November 2024.

Each count of wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

However, according to a plea agreement Cook reached with the U.S. Attorney’s office, the federal government will recommend a “low-end guideline sentence” and will not recommend jail time. Cook also agreed to pay $253,000 in restitution to the victims.


https://dailymontanan.com/2025/08/22/campaign-treasurer-for-political-committees-dem-candidates-charged-in-250k-embezzlement-scheme/