born october convicted pyramid investment promoter associated industry business activities role major fundraiser democratic_party gained notoriety suspicious patterns bundled campaign contributions reported subsequently discovered long time fugitive connection fraud conviction turning california authorities fled state quickly recaptured investigated illegally political donations associates formally charged fraud november federal grand jury indicted charges violating federal campaign finance laws investors million biography early life born raised hong_kong family originally shanghai age immigrated united_states obtained degree computer science married received california real estate license completed hong_kong partners formed company went bankrupt created companies including wear base engaged businesses including clothing stores restaurants time american citizen scheme conviction flight able gain trust investors dress warm manner educational credentials quoted trade magazines long list business record changing addresses leaving disappointed investors starting raised million investors launch latex glove business partners invested life savings homes sued appeared money lost living california declared bankruptcy stating practically job income possessions ring year divorced allegedly kidnapped society gang leader california authorities brought fraud charges describing operation scheme specifically authorities claimed engaged legitimate business activity instead funds later investors pay returns earlier ones february contest count grand theft agreed serve years prison pay fine subsequently failed appear sentencing hearing warrant issued arrest fled hong_kong lived working industry started companies vague charters aided described magnetic personality prospered living luxury building companies dissolved hong_kong courts declared bankrupt emerge hong_kong bankruptcy entry politics returned united_states late 1990s despite fugitive status established addresses san_francisco los_angeles areas investor invested real estate engagements industry later relocated new_york involved business lived luxury apartment flying chartered jets starting began contributing collecting contributions democratic_party join party registered vote donated causes clinton global initiative trustee new_york donated provided money scholarship democratic_party figures claimed know businesses appreciated support known quickly raise large amounts money found ways included high profile events status presidential campaign risen level bundled campaign hosted million fundraiser wealthy democratic_party supporter beverly_hills estate september scheduled host major gala fundraising event featuring music legend controversy political donations relationship family august investigation wall_street_journal revealed potential campaign finance irregularities involving role long time associates family california specifically members family donations democratic candidates donations closely coordinated terms timing amounts addition donations appeared larger expected given modest income according records obtained investigation gift shop live square foot house recently year old head household mail carrier earns approximately year records linked including campaign finance filing lists home residence september reported launched formal investigation possible campaign finance violations associates focal point investigation concerns donations constitute attorney denied wrongdoing status fugitive day release wall_street_journal investigation reported warrant issued failure appear sentencing fraud conviction valid august surrendered authorities district court house california california attorney general office negotiated million bail eventually applied presiding judge set million jailed briefly day attorney returned increased bail following week failed appear bail reduction hearing september expected turn passport bail warrant immediately issued arrest million september arrested fbi colorado falling ill california train headed chicago subsequently revealed suicide notes acquaintances organizations boarding train discovered pills loose compartment unclear remained large years engage prominent political activity detected unclear convicted having fled prosecution allowed bail having surrender passport prior second attempt flee attorney california defended stating prominence showed behave like fugitive moving resolution matter including plan victims actions september colorado judge denied prosecutor request bail set million instead set bail million prosecutor reported listing balance million time capture presiding judge remarked million wasn running million january sentenced jail years judge original fraud conviction years old judge hall rejected argument right trial denied authorities easily found arrested source income source income returned united_states unclear claims involved businesses fashion industry visits addresses found trace business addresses provided campaign donation forms listed businesses located new_jersey fashion designer listed investor said heard washington attorney claims return investments account ability political contributions detailed financial records controlled entity obvious business purpose reveal payments political donors contributions later bundled learning proposed investment scheme california businessman concerned warned activities legitimate apparently investors bridge loan operation returned approximately months investors told details operation investigators trying determine bridge loans involved business activity simply new scheme fact running multiple massive scale example new_york investment fund run founder invested million spread separate deals company reportedly told money manufacture known luxury brands yielding profit deal fund recently attempted cash checks company september insufficient funds federal charges fraud brought legal actions variety legal actions brought federal charges september federal complaint issued attorney manhattan complaint investment offerings scheme paid early investors money contributed later investors pressured investors contribute candidates office providing list candidates choose contributors candidates office contributions based actions charged mail fraud wire fraud violating face sentence years prison complaint cites statements victims witnesses confession fbi agent november federal grand jury sitting manhattan indicted charges violating federal campaign finance laws investors million according indictment false promises private investors companies paid guaranteed high rates return investments short term pleaded guilty federal court new_york counts mail wire fraud connection scheme stated knew illegal faced years prison count charges campaign finance fraud sentenced years prison currently incarcerated milan date release august source financing source financing investors investment fund started founder claims owes million source financing sued september asked candidates received campaign contributions donate charity money investors september group southern_california investors wood investors sued claiming pressured making contributions campaigns elected officials clear recipients campaign contributions added defendants lawsuits funds seek entities recover initial investments democratic party reaction initial reports suspicious contributions prominent democrats defended reputation supporters began distance long time fugitive status revealed fled california justice system contributions renounced increasing number elected officials general pattern reaction president senator nebraska originally stated terrific member board resigned board member said university background checks prospective trustees hoped didn break law time fugitive remarked thought knew obviously didn supporters pennsylvania governor called best people met later said norman friend remains failure appear casts new light original fraud case result follow elected officials donate money contributed charity comparison presidential candidate hillary_clinton began earlier phase scandal long time fugitive status revealed indications additional misconduct clinton campaign decided total bundled contributions clinton major candidate bundled contributions associates true campaign ignored earlier private warnings clinton largest recipient bundled donations president clinton referred friend norman scandal went public bill_clinton remarked language knocked straw democrats continuing try reconcile positive personal impressions criminal behavior sat president barack_obama campaign national finance committee remarked despite love guy despite read experience delightful scratch head appeared want expect return contributions appear high profile circles west_coast democratic fundraiser said desperate included big ticket event california little sad clinton campaign aide attempted penetrate deeply motives remarking business activity reinforced efforts politics philanthropy like generous guy later realize
Norman Hsu