[h1]Green's spending spree widespread[/h1]
Nonprofits, campaigns got illicit donations

SAN ANGELO, Texas — Hardly a pecuniary realm escaped the touch of Yantis Green's credit card fraud.

Commercial businesses, nonprofits, political campaigns — most all of them said they were caught off guard upon learning the money they received from Green was part of nearly $63,000 in fraudulent charges he made over five years.

Green is a former Republican Tom Green County Commissioner who resigned earlier this month. He was terminated this summer from his job as the manager of a public water utility because he used the utility's credit card for personal purchases. He confessed and pleaded guilty to a federal charge of theft.

POLITICAL

Green made about $1,150 in political donations to various Republican campaigns.

San Angelo's Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway received $150 in donations, and he said he returned those donations to the water district, even knowing that Green had paid back the full amount.

"It's their money, not ours," Conaway said during a visit to San Angelo.

Conaway faces Democrat Jim Riley and Libertarian Scott Ballard in the general elections.

The campaign of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said in an email that it donated the funds to the American Red Cross once it learned the donations had come from fraud. Romney's campaign had received $216 in contributions, according to the records of Green's expenses.

The office of Gov. Rick Perry, Minnesota Republican U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann and the Republican Party of Texas have not given a response or reaction about receiving funds from Green.

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