DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — THE CAMPAIGN TREASURER for a losing 2021 candidate for Brooklyn borough president pleaded guilty Tuesday to a scheme to defraud the NYC Campaign Finance Board. Breon Peace, U.S. Attorney for EDNY, and the FBI’s James Dennehy said in a release that Erlene King, 71, solicited at least $25,000 in illegal donations while working on the campaign of a contender dubbed “Candidate 1” by EDNY, but identified in October by THE CITY as Anthony Jones. Candidates in that BP election round received up to $8 in matching funds for each $1 of eligible contributions, up to $1,400 per contributor. In total, the matching funds program provided up to $1,457,777 to “Candidate 1.” King admitted she had received fraudulent donations from straw donors and submitted forged documents. The CFB ultimately refused to pay any public matching funds to the campaign.

Tuesday’s proceeding was held before United States District Judge Carol Bagley Amon. King is facing multiple years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for April 29.