One of the most prominent Republican fundraisers for President Bush in Ohio has been charged with illegally funneling money to Bush’s re-election campaign. A federal grand jury also charged businessman Thomas Noe with making false statements to the Federal Election Commission. The three counts lodged against Noe each carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine. The indictment alleges that Noe laundered $45,000 in contributions by recruiting and providing money to 24 friends and associates who made contributions in their names so Noe could avoid the individual campaign contribution limit of $2,000. Another state grand jury in Ohio is investigating Noe’s $50 million investment in rare coins on behalf of Ohio’s Bureau of Worker’s Compensation. The Ohio Attorney General has accused Noe of stealing at least $4 million of it. There continue to be serious allegations of vote fraud in Ohio in the 2004 elections.