Chagoury–Baaklini straw-donor scheme

Scheme in which Gilbert Chagoury funnelled approximately $180,000 to four US federal political candidates across three election cycles via US-citizen conduits, with Toufic Baaklini serving as the cash courier. Chagoury entered a US DOJ Deferred Prosecution Agreement in March 2021 admitting the conspiracy and paid a $1.8M fine. Separately, former US Congressman Ray LaHood settled an FEC matter for $40,000 over an undisclosed $50K 2012 payment from Baaklini that LaHood told prosecutors he understood was Chagoury's money. Jeff Fortenberry was the 2016 recipient of $30K cash routed via conduits.