Woman Illegally Donated Tens Of Thousands To Political Campaigns

LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE, CA — A La Cañada Flintridge woman has admitted to illegally making campaign contributions in hopes of securing a position as a trustee at a government-operated cultural center in Washington, D.C.

Federal prosecutors say Teena Maria Hostovich, 66, was working as an insurance brokerage executive when she "knowingly and willfully" made just over $75,000 in campaign contributions to federal candidates and federal joint fundraising committees from May 2020 to 2023.

Hostovich used other people's names, including employees at the insurance brokerage firm where she worked, along with the names of the employees' family members, to make the donations, federal prosecutors said.

The 66-year-old would contact the employees or their family members and ask them to make the contributions on her behalf, according to authorities. She'd then pay them back via PayPal, often in the exact amount or in an amount that just barely exceeded the contribution, according to federal prosecutors.

Hostovich, according to federal prosecutors, knew her actions were unlawful but did it in hopes of securing an appointment to the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees in Washington, D.C.

The Kennedy Center functions as a center for the performing arts and serves as the official residence of the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera.

Hostovich did not obtain any position at the center, federal prosecutors said.

The candidate committees or joint fundraising committees were not aware of Hostovich's actions, federal prosecutors said.

On Wednesday, Hostovich was charged with making contributions in the name of another aggregating to more than $10,000 in a year, according to federal prosecutors. She pleaded guilty and agreed to pay a fine of $43,500, authorities said.

Making contributions in the name of another, aggregating to more than $10,000 in a year, usually carries a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison. It's unclear whether Hostovich faces any prison time as part of her plea agreement with the United States Attorney's Office.