An 80-year old Blythe man has been charged in Manhattan Federal Court with defrauding thousands of donors to scam political action committees ( PAC ).

John Pierre Dupont , a/k/a John Gary Rinaldo , was arrested Thursday morning and charged with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. From at least 2015 , Dupont operated multiple fake political action committees and falsely claimed to be raising money to support more than a dozen campaigns. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York , thousands of donors believed the money was being used to support the causes described in the solicitation when in reality the scam PAC's had no operations other than fundraising itself. No funds were used to support candidates. Dupont allegedly set up three PACs and garnered more than $250,000 through websites he controlled and operated. The websites purported to raise money in support of Democratic congressional and senate campaigns , 10 particular Senate candidates , a candidate for governor , and a candidate for president. The scheme targeted victims across the country. The case is being handled by the Department of Justice U. S. Attorney's Office , Southern District of New York.