Donor who benefited in Soboba water settlement pleads guilty

Thursday, February 24, 2011  

A wealthy potato grower who pleaded guilty to violating political contribution limits in California will be able to stay on a water board that benefited from a settlement with the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians.

Larry Minor, the owner of , sits on the board of the Lake Hemet Water District. As part of the settlement, the district will share in $10 million in federal funds and will receive imported water.

Right before the settlement passed, Minor and some family members donated thousands of dollars to Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-California), the bill's sponsor. Two of his nephews had never donated to federal candidates, The Washington Post reported.

Minor pleaded guilty to using family members to funnel contributions to state politicians. The contributions to Mack were not at issue in the case.

Get the Story:
Potato titan convicted for California contributions is also a big donor in federal races (The Washington Post 2/24)