We are all familiar with the “smurfs,” those tiny blue creatures living under the forest’s canopy in mushroom homes. But are there other smurfs amongst us? The ones we are talking about are also blue, as in Democrat Party blue. “Smurfing” is very similar to the money laundering practice known as “structuring.” Large donations are broken up and structured into smaller transactions to avoid detection.

Before we proceed, it is essential to remember that our research primarily relies on public records. We examine records to determine the facts in any particular instance. What is contained in a record is limited to the written word and, on its face, doesn’t allow further examination. We recognize the importance of validating some information to get a fuller perspective on occasion. However, the factual data in the records examined here makes a strong case for “smurfing” practices.

Further, if these are actual smurfing instances, the individuals in the data may be unsuspecting victims of a much larger scheme. They are not public figures, and they have not been personally engaged to determine if they are, in fact, victims of “smurfing.” For that reason, we have elected to utilize their initials to protect their identity, similar to how parties would protect the identity of a minor child in a court proceeding. Our first possible “smurf” sighting can be found down on the bayou in Houma, Louisiana.

Houma Smurf

J.T. is a 74-year-old registered Democrat who held or presently holds licensure as an engineer/land surveyor. According to information obtained from the Federal Elections Commission, between 2013 and present, J.T. has made approximately 25,161 donations totaling $1,260,677.07 to left-wing candidates and organizations, including Act Blue. That is an average donation of around $50.00 one hundred and ninety times a month over the last eleven years.

Between 2019 and 2022, J.T. made 2,887 donations totaling $173,128.32. The 2,887 donations in just 1,461 days equate to approximately 1.9 donations per day, every day for four years. Again, to put that in perspective, in March of 2022, J.T. made 101 donations to Act Blue. The number of donations per day during March of 2022 was as follows:

• 03/01 – 3
• 03/02 – 1
• 03/07 – 5
• 03/08 – 6
• 03/10 – 19
• 03/15 – 2
• 03/16 – 11
• 03/19 – 1
• 03/20 – 4
• 03/23 – 4
• 03/25 – 7
• 03/28 – 5
• 03/29 – 33

Additionally, between 2015 and 2023, J.T. made donations to State and local candidates in Louisiana totaling $11,979.60. Thirty-one donations, or $4,240.00 in contributions, were made to John Bel Edwards.

St. Amant Smurf

Similarly, between 2018 and 2024, D.B. of St. Amant, Louisiana, made 8,376 donations totaling $111,027.67 to left-wing candidates and organizations, including Act Blue. D.B. is a 79-year-old registered Democrat. That is an average donation of around $13.25.

Between 2019 and 2022, D.B. made 3,661 donations totaling $43,829.90. 3,661 in just 1,461 days, or approximately 2.5 daily donations for four years. Again, to put that in perspective, in February 2020, D.B. made 208 donations to Act Blue as follows:

• 02/01 – 8
• 02/02 – 8
• 02/03 – 8
• 02/05 – 15
• 02/06 – 12
• 02/07 – 3
• 02/08 – 2
• 02/09 – 2
• 02/10 – 18
• 02/11 – 6
• 02/12 – 2
• 02/14 – 10
• 02/15 – 11
• 02/16 – 11
• 02/18 – 5
• 02/19 – 14
• 02/20 – 3
• 02/21 – 5
• 02/22 – 6
• 02/23 – 17
• 02/24 – 4
• 02/25 – 11
• 02/26 – 3
• 02/27 – 2
• 02/28 – 6
• 02/29 – 16

Other Smurfs

L.C. is another potential smurf, this time in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. L.C. is a 78-year-old registered Democrat who lives in an apartment complex. Between 2013 and 2024, L.C. made 6,875 donations totaling $103,092.38 to left-wing candidates and organizations, including Act Blue. That is an average donation of around $15.00.

Additionally, L.C. made donations to State and local candidates in Louisiana. Between 2015 and 2023, J.T. made 115 donations totaling $2,019.63. 114 donations, or $1,969.63 in contributions, were made to John Bel Edwards.

There is also J.F. of New Orleans, Louisiana. J.F. is a 78-year-old registered Democrat. Similarly, between 2013 and 2024, J.F. made 11,172 donations totaling $99,972.07 to left-wing candidates and organizations, including Act Blue.

Additionally, J.F. made donations to state and local candidates in Louisiana. Between 2015 and 2023, J.F. made 84 donations totaling $970.00. Sixty donations, or $681.00 in contributions, were made to John Bel Edwards.

Is It Legal?

Other states, such as Virginia, have already notified ActBlue of allegations concerning fraudulent, deceptive, and/or other illegal activities, including aiding and abetting others. Virginia notes that the donations appear to be made through fictional donors and dummy accounts without actual persons’ consent or awareness.

On August 5, 2024, the Committee on House Administration’s Chairman Bryan Steil (WI-01) announced the committee’s next oversight phase into ActBlue’s online political donation operation amid concerns that ActBlue is violating or skirting federal campaign finance laws. The announcement highlights the possibility of foreign governments laundering contributions through prepaid gift cards and U.S. credit and debit cardholders. Foreign campaign contributions are illegal. However, it is difficult to detect if an intermediary breaks up large sums into small donations attributed to the actual names of private citizens.

There is a history of this kind of behavior in the Democratic Party. “The 1996 United States campaign finance controversy, sometimes referred to as Chinagate, was an effort by the People’s Republic of China to influence domestic American politics before and during the Clinton administration and also involved the fundraising practices of the administration itself.”

Louisiana law also makes it unlawful for any person to “give, furnish, or contribute monies… through or in the name of another.” Suppose any contributions were made without the consent of the person. In that case, it may also violate the Louisiana criminal code, depending on the information used in the transaction. The Louisiana identity theft statute makes it a crime to use another person’s “personal identifying information” without authorization or consent.

There Are More…

We’ve provided a few examples of potential “smurfing” in Louisiana. Countless other instances would be too voluminous to list. But what is clear is that an organized network of smurfs likely exists within our state. While it’d be possible for a small transparency organization like Citizens for a New Louisiana to locate and even perhaps interview some of these individuals, we’d have to take their word for it. Doing so would alert these individuals, who may have even agreed to participate in such an ethically questionable practice.

A proper investigation would have to include looking through financial records. That requires action from investigatory agencies with warrant and/or subpoena power, such as a District Attorney, our Attorney General, or even the FBI. Will someone take this seriously before the rapidly upcoming election?