The campaign treasurer for New York City Comptroller John Liu, who has bee campaigning for Mayor in 2013, has been charged with fraud.

Jia Hou, also known as Jenny Hou, was arrested Tuesday on charges she was part of a scheme that used straw donors to funnel large, illegal contributions to the campaign.

She also was charged with obstructing the government’s investigation of fraud in connection with the campaign’s fundraising efforts.

“New York’s campaign finance laws are not optional. They ensure that all candidates operate on a level playing field and that everyone plays by the rules,” Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara stated in the release. “Today, we allege that Jia Hou, a Campaign Treasurer, was a central figure in a coordinated scheme to break the City’s campaign finance laws. As described in the criminal complaint, Hou concealed the use of straw donors, subverted the City’s electoral system, and obstructed justice. As today’s charges demonstrate, unlawful campaign conduct will not be tolerated.”

Ms. Liu, who’s only 25 years old, is charged with one count of each: conspiracy to commit wirefraud, attempting to commit wire fraud, and obstruction of justice. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.

(Sources: WSJ / Politicker)