4 Groups Tied to Extremist LaRouche Held Liable for $17 Million in Penalties
Four organizations linked to political extremist Lyndon LaRouche are liable for civil citations and fines totaling $17 million under a decision upheld by the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
The ruling last week was aimed at groups that have not paid fines imposed in 1985 by U.S. District Judge A. David Mazzone when the organizations refused to comply with grand jury subpoenas seeking documents for an investigation of credit card fraud.
Prosecutors alleged the groups made unauthorized charges of $500 and $1,000 to credit card numbers of people solicited to buy magazines.
The groups are Campaigner Publications Inc., Fusion Energy Foundation, National Democratic Policy Committee and Caucus Distributors Inc.
Mazzone ordered each group fined $10,000 daily on March 29, 1985, until they complied with the subpoenas. He levied an additional daily fine of $5,000 Jan. 22 against Caucus Distributors for failing to produce additional documents.
The groups have paid no fines.
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