Former GOP Presidential Candidate John Anthony Castro Sentenced for Tax Fraud
Concord, N.H. – John Anthony Castro, a failed “Never Trump” Republican presidential candidate, has been sentenced to 188 months in federal prison for tax fraud, marking a notable first in the race to challenge President-elect Donald Trump. Castro’s sentence, handed down on Halloween, comes after he was found guilty on 33 felony counts related to filing false tax returns, totaling more than 15 years in prison—a sentence that equates to roughly one year for every million dollars he allegedly defrauded through his tax schemes.
Despite his unsuccessful efforts to displace Trump from the New Hampshire primary ballot through multiple lawsuits, Castro’s campaign was marked by a lack of genuine support and funding. His campaign raised approximately $800 and lacked any physical presence in New Hampshire, operating with no paid staff or recognizable supporters. In a bid to validate his political operation, he dispatched family members to post campaign signs but only reached a small audience.
Castro’s legal tactics centered on claiming that as a presidential candidate, he had legal grounds to argue Trump illegally occupied his electoral space, a concept the courts deemed novel. Although a law school graduate, Castro never passed a bar exam and falsely represented himself as a licensed attorney until confronted by the Florida State Bar.
In addition to his prison term, Castro has been ordered to pay $277,000 in restitution to the IRS. Despite the conviction, he retains a sliver of hope as federal laws allow him to seek a presidential pardon from Trump. Castro’s journey, marred by deceit and legal strife, serves as a cautionary tale of ambition tainted by financial misconduct.
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