Campaign finance manager accused of wire fraud totaling $253,000
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Campaign finance manager accused of wire fraud totaling $253,000
Abbey Lee Cook is accused of defrauding six different committees of a combined $253,000. Cook is scheduled for a plea hearing Sept. 9 in U.S. District Court in Great Falls. Each of the three wire fraud charges against Cook carries a maximum 20-year prison sentence and a fine of $250,000, according to federal prosecutors. Cook reached a plea agreement with prosecutors Aug. 14, in which she agreed to repay the money. In turn, prosecutors agree not to seek detention, leaving it up to a judge to decide the matter.
Abbey Lee Cook, who during the 2024 election cycle did campaign compliance work for roughly a dozen political committees and candidates, is accused of defrauding six different committees of a combined $253,000.
Cook reached a plea agreement with prosecutors Aug. 14, in which she agreed to repay the $253,000. In turn, prosecutors agree not to seek detention, leaving it up to a judge to decide the matter. Each of the three wire fraud charges against Cook carries a maximum 20-year prison sentence and a fine of $250,000.
Cook is scheduled for a plea hearing Sept. 9 in U.S. District Court in Great Falls.
Calls and texts to Cook for this article had not been returned at publication time.
In charging documents filed Wednesday, federal prosecutors alleged that Cook, doing business as Abbey Lee Cook and Associates, embezzled funds from multiple individuals and entities during the 2023-2024 election cycle. Prosecutors aren’t naming the parties, but have identified six anonymous victims.
Campaign finance reports identify several committees that used Cook as a compliance officer in 2024, including the Democratic state senators Cora Neumann, of Bozeman; Laura Smith, of Helena; state Rep. Zooey Zephyr, of Missoula; 2024 Democratic Attorney General candidate Ben Alke, and former state Supreme Court candidate Jerry Lynch.
Several parties contacted for this article declined to comment until after Cook is sentenced.
State campaign finance records show several committees using Cook, including the Montana Democratic Party, Montana 55+ Action Fund, Montana Conservation Voters Action Fund, Montana Senior Vote Action Fund, Montanans for Election Reform Action Fund and Planned Parenthood Action Montana PAC.
In an emailed statement Thursday, Trent Bolger, executive director of Big Sky 55+, which oversees Montana Senior Vote Action Fund’s operations, said that they lost $18,000 to Cook.
“On August 14th of last year, Abbey Lee Cook took $18,000.00 from the Montana Senior Vote Action fund account without permission. Staff demanded it back as soon as it was discovered, a few days later. When it was clear it was not going to be returned, we terminated her contract and sent a demand letter to return it, which she never responded to. There is a legal process that will play out in the future, and we hope that justice will be done.”
Cook has also been mentioned in relation to federal campaign citations about delayed report filings. The group Montana Outdoor Values Action Fund identified Cook as the reason its finances had gone unreported through the middle of 2024. The Federal Election Commission later fined the PAC $12,372 for noncompliance.