By Associated Press, 02/01/00
WASHINGTON - A Miami computer company already fined $1 million by the Justice Department for illegally contributing to Democratic candidates has agreed to pay another $209,000 to the Federal Election Commission.
Future Tech International used corporate funds to reimburse employees who contributed to President Clinton's 1996 campaign and several House and Senate Democrats, including Sens. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts and Robert Torricelli of New Jersey, according to documents released by the FEC.
In addition, Future Tech made $110,000 in unregulated soft money contributions to the Democratic National Committee. As a citizen of the Philippines, Future Tech president Mark Jimenez could not legally contribute to American political campaigns.
Jimenez built the distributor of computer components and peripherals from a small company to one that does more than $250 million a year in business. He has since returned to his home country.
In December, as part of the Justice Department investigation into campaign finance violations, the company and its chief financial officer, Juan C. Ortiz, signed plea agreements and were fined $1 million.
According to court documents, Future Tech reimbursed about 23 employees for campaign contributions to the 1996 Clinton-Gore Primary Committee in connection with a Sept. 19, 1995, fund-raising event at the Sheraton Bal Harbour Hotel in Miami.
