Without campaign contributions, “nobody will even talk to you. . . . That’s the only way to buy them, get into the system. . . . What, what else is there? That’s the only thing.”
– Sant Singh Chatwal in conversation with a Government Informant in October 2010
Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York
Sant Singh Chatwal – Headed for Prison
Hillary Clinton supporter, Bill Clinton buddy, Democratic Party fundraiser, New York hotelier and Padma Bhushan awardee Sant Singh Chatwal is a realistic man and a man who understands the ways of the world.
Chairman of Hampshire Hotels Management LLC, Sant Chatwal knows that money is what oils the wheels of U.S. government and gets American politicians to do your bidding.
So Sant Chatwal did what so many other wealthy Americans do often – He made illegal campaign contributions to U.S. politicians.
Chatwal Group Hotel in Manhattan
Sant Chatwal – An Idiot
But Sant Chatwal is an idiot because he got caught doing what so many rich Americans do frequently but are smart enough to evade capture and thus escape punishment.
For his crimes and for his stupidity, Sant Chatwal is now headed for prison for illegal campaign contribution and witness tampering.
Sant Chatwal has pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate the Federal Election Campaign Act by making over $180,000 in federal campaign donations to three candidates through ‘straw donors’ and to witness tampering. A straw donor makes campaign contributions for which he’s then reimbursed by the ‘actual donor,’ a practice that’s illegal under U.S. law.
Chatwal faces up to 25 years in prison in theory but is likely to draw a sentence of three to four years.
As part of his plea deal with the government, Chatwal must also forfeit $1 million to the U.S.
Chatwal is scheduled to be sentenced July 31.
Here’s what U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Loretta Lynch had to say on Sant Chatwal:
The Election Act’s spending limits are in place to limit financial influence in federal elections and to ensure transparency as to the identity of donors. Chatwal sought to buy access to power through unlimited and illegal campaign contributions, funneling money from the shadows through straw donors. Chatwal’s scheme sought to subvert the very purpose of the Election Act. Chatwal then rolled the dice to stymie the government’s investigation, thinking he could corruptly convince witnesses to his federal election crimes to stay silent. That gamble did not pay off. Today’s conviction sends a clear message that this office is committed to vigorously investigating and prosecuting individuals who are responsible for committing crimes in connection with federal campaign donations and witness tampering.
According to Lynch’s office, from 2007 to 2011, Chatwal used his employees, business associates, and contractors who performed work on his hotels (the “Chatwal Associates”), to solicit campaign contributions on Chatwal’s behalf for various candidates for federal office and PACs, collect these contributions, and pay reimbursements for these contributions, in violation of the Election Act.
In the below video from 2012, Sant Chatwal boasts about his success as a hotelier:
Last year, Sant Chatwal’s son Vikram Chatwal was arrested at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport for possession of illegal drugs including heroin and cocaine.
Punjabi Chutiya Sant Singh Chatwal Going to Jail for Being Realistic on U.S. Politicians added by SearchIndia.com on
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How does it get ever proved that you’re the actual donor? Conversations? Transactions?
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Campaign contributions are highly regulated in U.S. and public documents. You can find out online who gave to whom or who got from whom.
In Sant Chatwal’s case, it looks like someone reported it to the govt. Then the govt used an informant to record conversations between Chatwal and the informant….That’s how the billionaire got screwed!
off-topic:
http://www.bloomberg.com/dataview/2014-04-17/how-americans-die.html
SearchIndia.com Responds:
I’m not sure if longer life expectancy is a blessing!
Off-topic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXB2gGlgo5Q
Jolly Song, if possible see the movie…
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Haven’t we seen such silly songs in a thousand Indian moves?? 🙁
It’s plainly obvious that Arjun Kapoor can’t dance to save his life.
So how bad was this North-South love movie? 😉
Our politicians would be appalled at this ‘travesty’ of justice!
Money flowing from businessmen to politicians are a right of passage in desiland, and here is someone being ‘penalized’ for parting with his own money for a cause he deeply believes in, electing pliable politicians.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
I doubt this Punjabi chutiya will get more than a slap on the wrist.
After all, he had the Clintons flow on a special plane to India for his son’s wedding (which didn’t last long).
I hope they throw Junior Chatwal too in the can…the fellow was caught at a Florida airport last year with a variety of illegal drugs.
read this on gurbaksh chawal: http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/2014/04/ad-mogul-gurbaksh-g-chahal-pleads-guilty-to-two.html?ana=e_du_pub&s=article_du&ed=2014-04-17&u=jnPHFtoqcvRKkofuRFHPUQ099829c6&t=1397772861&page=all
this what you call “money talks” he got away with literally beating the crap out of his now ex-girlfriend and nearly killing her. must have given her millions to stay shut up. i mean with his company ready to go IPO, he reputation was on the line. he gets no jail time and just probation. what are your views on this. you should also write an article on this too.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
You write: what are your views on this.
Why are you making a big issue of this?
After all, the West Coast Punjabi Chutiya Gurbaksh Chahal hit his girlfriend only 117 times in 30-minutes.
Can you match his Olympian feat?
I bet you can’t hit your girlfriend/boyfriend even 1.17 times (1% of Gurbaksh Chahal’s record) in 30 years.
I will confess that neither can I.
Pearls of wisdom from the West Coast Punjabi Chutiya Gurbaksh Chahal:
Source: http://www.chahal.com/
Many decades back, I had a wise friend in India who often used to say: Money Talks, Bullshit Walks!