NEW YORK — A New York man has been indicted by a grand jury on charges that he conspired with his brother to use the proceeds of illegal gambling to pay for Trump-related travel, New York’s attorney general said Tuesday.
The indictment unsealed Monday charges Alexander Perretta with two counts of racketeering conspiracy, a third-degree felony and making false statements to a federal grand jury, a federal criminal complaint said.
Perrettas brother, Christopher, has been charged in the case, the attorney general’s office said.
Christopher Perretts’ lawyer, Steven Rosenfeld, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Christopher and Christopher Perretas, the elder Perrett, have not commented on the indictments.
Christopher is expected to appear in court later Tuesday.
Perreta has denied the charges.
A criminal complaint filed by federal prosecutors in Manhattan accused Christopher Perrette of “peddling and transporting with the intent to defraud” a $1.3 million check from the Donald J. Trump Foundation to the Trump Organization in the years before the 2016 presidential election.
That money went toward the purchase of luxury condos in New York City, including a $10 million condominium in Trump Tower, the complaint said, which Perrett had been planning to build but was thwarted by the Trump Foundation.
The lawsuit alleged that Christopher Perletta “was in direct and direct violation of federal law, which prohibits a foreign national from making any contribution or contribution of money to a political committee of a candidate for public office.”
A third-party law firm was also retained to help with the investigation, according to the complaint.
Christopher perretta and his brother, Robert Perrett are accused of participating in a scheme in which the money was funneled to the New York attorney general and the Trump campaign through the Trump family foundation, according a criminal complaint.
The elder Perretes have pleaded not guilty and their attorney did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday.
Christopher Perrett and his father, Robert, were also accused of acting as intermediaries in the scheme and providing “official” documentation to support the Trump-funded project.
Christopher reportedly said he was paid $2,500 per day for work on the project, according the complaint, but Robert Perret received $10,000 per day and did not appear in a court appearance Monday.
The two brothers are not accused of any wrongdoing, according, according with the complaint against Christopher Perriest.
Christopher had previously worked in government as an assistant director in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, according.
The Trump campaign has denied any wrongdoing.