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Former Candidate Doug Ose Rips Illegal Donations Made To Ami Bera

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – The father of Rep. Ami Bera pleaded guilty to funneling more than a quarter-million dollars into his son's campaign.

The FBI investigated following an anonymous tip and the findings were startling.

According to court documents, his father Babulal Bera, a retired engineer, reimbursed donors after he maxed out on the allowable contributions he could give to his son's campaign in 2010 and 2012.

Former Congressional candidate Doug Ose who ran against Ami Bera in 2014 and lost, said the guilty plea is no surprise to him.

"They purposefully, willfully, and knowingly violated our laws," Ose said.

Investigators found over 130 improper campaign contributions involving 90 contributors over two elections.

"I've always been a firm believer of following the money and who benefits. The net result is someone got elected to office who probably wouldn't have gotten elected had they not had the money and that's corruption," said Ose.

Rep. Bera said he wasn't aware his father was campaigning for him illegally and released this statement:

I am incredibly saddened and disappointed in learning what my dad did. While I deeply love my father, it's clear he has made a grave mistake that will have real consequences for him.

Since I learned from authorities about this investigation, my team and I have cooperated fully with the U.S. Attorney's Office. Neither I, nor anyone involved with my campaign, was aware of my father's activities until we learned about them from the U.S. Attorney's Office and, on the advice of my attorney, I have not discussed this matter or anything else regarding my campaigns with my father.

Once this investigation was made public, I immediately took steps to give the full amount of improper donations to the United States Treasury and the taxpayers.

My father taught me the value of hard work and, if not for him, I would not be a doctor. But he also taught me that we are all accountable for our own actions, and he has accepted responsibility for what he did.

Babulal Bera faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and will be sentenced in August.

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