The Ethics Commission fined Marc Chase $80,000 for funneling illegal contributions to the 2012 campaigns of San Diego County Dist. Atty. Bonnie Dumanis and ex-Mayor Bob Filner. Chase, the co-owner of a luxury car dealership in La Jolla, admitted he laundered money from Mexican businessman Jose Susumo Azano Matsura into the mayoral campaigns of Dumanis and Filner.

Azano was a major customer of Chase, who served as a “straw” donor to hide Azano’s name. Election law forbids contributions from foreign nationals.

Chase also pleaded guilty in federal court to eight misdemeanor counts of campaign funding violations. He could face eight years in prison when sentenced Nov. 13, 2014.

Photo of the San Diego skyline courtesy of Tomcio77 on Wikimedia Commons.