Major Shasta County campaign donor Reverge Anselmo slapped with FPPC fine over late filings
Anselmo was recently fined more than $20,000 for violations of California campaign filing law that occurred between 2020-2022. He’s given almost $2 million in Shasta County over the last few years, ushering in a wave of new politicians on the county board.
Update 7.2.2025: We have updated the article’s wording about a large gift from Anselmo due to date discrepancies between FPPC documentation and available Shasta County filings. We’ve also added comment from former supervisor Patrick Jones.
In June, the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) fined wealthy East coast donor Reverge Anselmo for campaign violations related to improperly reporting contributions in Shasta County over the last few years.
Anselmo, a former county resident who engaged for years in a heated battle with Shasta County officials over permitting on his private property, is reportedly the largest campaign donor in county history. His gifts to Shasta County campaigns and political action committees (PACs) between 2020 and 2024 totaled almost $2 million. The money helped recall former supervisor Leonard Moty and usher in a wave of new county officials, including former supervisors Tim Garman and Patrick Jones as well as current supervisors Kevin Crye and Chris Kelstrom.
Much of the funds donated by Anselmo were distributed by Shasta County political activists and siblings, Mark and Lyndia Kent, through a series of PACs, including the Shasta General Purpose Committee, the Liberty Committee and the Water Users Committee.
The FPPC voted June 19 to approve fining Anselmo $21,500 for six separate violations over recent years. Anselmo’s violations of state campaign law include failing to file four required twice-annual campaign statements and two required 24-hour reports.
According to legal documentation submitted to FPPC commissioners, Reverge qualified as a major donor in 2020, 2021 and 2022. His failure to file as such was documented by A News Cafe in May 2022.
Anselmo failed to file a required semi-annual report known as Form 461 four times in a row, the FPPC says, missing all of the paperwork deadlines for that form throughout 2020 and 2021. On May 20, 2025, Anselmo finally filed the Form 461 for the second half of 2021 documenting $100,000 given to the Water Users Committee during that time.
One of Anselmo’s other violations involves what the FPPC refers to as a $100,000 gift “related to the March 3, 2020 primary and candidate Patrick Jones.” Given the size of the gift and the close proximity of the election, state law requires such a donation to be filed on what’s known as a Form 497 within 24 hours.
California law now restricts individual’s from donating more than $4,900 to candidates in a single election cycle.
How Anselmo’s penalties were decided
The maximum allowed penalty for Anselmo’s violations was $30,000 — or $5,000 per violation. However, the FPPC levied a somewhat lower fine of $21,500 in total.
Determining how much to fine an individual, the FPPC wrote in the related legal documents, factors in how much public harm was caused, previous FPPC penalties in similar cases, whether the violation was deliberate and done with intent to deceive and whether the violator shows an ongoing pattern of violations.
In Anselmo’s case, the FPPC enforcement team wrote, the donor “engaged in over one million dollars in political activity over a three-year period and failed to timely file numerous campaign statements and reports, including failing to file two 24-Hour Contribution Reports before the relevant elections.”
The FPPC paperwork noted other aggravating factors, such as Anselmo’s experience as a major donor and a similar pattern of prior behavior. Anselmo was fined $800 for a late filing by the FPPC in 2012. Another two incidents of late filing were documented by the FPPC a year later, but qualified for what’s known as a streamline stipulation, meaning no fine was paid.
Positive indicators, such as Anselmo’s willingness to cooperate with the recent FPPC investigation and the fact that recipients of his funding had already disclosed the donations also factored into how much the FPPC decided to fine.
Before the three-member Commission approved the proposed penalty against Anselmo and several others last month, Chair Adam Silver noted that the level of detail about the cases included in FPPC legal documents helped him understand the facts and intent behind the violations, thanking FPCC enforcement team members for their work.
“We, as a commission, have directed you to focus on the most serious violations,” Silver said, “And when I run through the consent calendar here, we’re looking at misuse of campaign funds, conflicts of interest and illegal gifts. These are the exact types of violations the public is hoping that we’re cracking down on. Job well done.”
Patrick Jones Responds
Shasta Scout has not yet been able to reach Anselmo for a response but spoke briefly with former supervisor Jones today, who said he’s spoken to Anselmo since the fines were levied and believes he was simply unaware of how campaign filings work in California.
“I think he probably felt that we would report the donations – and we did – and that would be sufficient.”
Do you have a correction to share? Email us: editor@shastascout.org.
Through December 31, NewsMatch is matching donations dollar-for-dollar up to $18,000, giving us the chance to double that amount for local journalism in Shasta County. Don't wait — the time to give is now!
Support Scout, and multiply your gift
Author
Comments (33)
Comments are closed.
Related Articles
Emergency supplies available for Redding residents as flood impacts continue
City officials have not yet announced how many residents and businesses are believed to have been impacted by the flooding, which they say occurred as a result of clogs in stormwater drain systems brought on by a high volume rain falling in Redding over a short period of time.
A group of community members are hoping to start a new medical school in Shasta. Here’s what we know
Redding Vice Mayor Dr. Paul Dhanuka and Simpson University President Dr. Norm Hall are some of the leading figures behind the plan.
With more rain ahead, Redding officials explain flooding, urge caution
This weekend, the city’s stormwater infrastructure became clogged with debris due to the speed and volume of rain, officials said, leading to serious flooding in parts of Redding.
Just an FYI…Fair Political Practices Commission {FPPC} Advice Line: Mon-Thu, 9a-11:30a. 1.866.275.3772 x 1. Very friendly staff. Enforcement Complaint: complaint@fppc.ca.gov
FPPC 1102 Q St. Ste. 3050 Sacramento CA 95811
Thanks, Shasat Scout… Seems like Jones and crew don’t know what they are doing, or they don’t care, or both… Thank goodness we live in California and that the State is keeping an eye on these neoconfederate militia-infested insurrectionist groups. I know, I know, yes, the SOJ and Newe California act like they don’t, but yeah, it’s called California and always will be, and but for their funder, Anselmo, these extremists live here. However, they do seem to have money to burn, and due to their lack of diligence, the state is making a bit of coin off their ignorance. So, keep it up, guys, and thank you!
Christine Gardener,
I hope you get the mental health help you need. You seem to carry a lot of anger.
This guy remains active in Shasta County.
Claudette-Jones also got fined for campaign law violations. Around $10,000 as I recall. Clint Curtis started collecting campaign donations before filing paperwork to run for ROV. He may be next for investigation and fine.
Yes Jones and Lyndia Kent were fined $10,000 by the FPPC recently.
Puhleez…Crye, Jones & King Pin Reverge, the more you try to explain away anything, the more embarrassing you become. Just fade away into your secret little hideouts.
Appears the state of California don’t like capitalist in their state. And capitalist are Republicans. Another attack by liberal Democrats to punish free enterprise and capitalism in Shasta County.
Bless your heart. Fear is a big and frequent emotion when those who read, disagree with maga. Anger and name calling is easy. Facts seem just out of reach and threaten unfounded but loved illusions.
Grieving: I have edited your comment to remove a reference to the term magats.
21,500 is what he makes an hour! He has made a great difference in Shasta County! 98% of his detractors know nothing of this man! You have literally no idea the good that he has done around the world! He is trying to save Shasta County for liberal socialism! A theory that has been proven wrong time and time again! Yet, here we see the liberal left blather about him! You’re not qualified to write about a person his stature! Nobody in Shasta county is
Hi Jon. I’m merely reporting on a fine he received for late filings. I didn’t say anything negative about Mr. Anselmo.
Keep up the good work Annelise. It’s also helpful to me to see the people who love dictators, being told what to believe, whining to you.
Wise
would you mind sharing that Kool-Aid?
After all, “He is trying to save Shasta County for liberal socialism!” Well now, do tell.
Yeah Shasta County is and always has been about to fall into the hands of liberal socialists!! He is a meddler pure and simple because he is yet another spoiled rich man/child and he seeks his revenge! What a joke!
Tell me you are Anselmo without telling me you are Anselmo.
Liberal socialism, that’s all you can come up with? So you’re okay with the dictatorship that republicans are trying to make happen in our country?! Hope your mama is already living with you, trump’s bs is going to cause millions of Americans to suffer 👆!
Jon-were you on Anselmo’s payroll? You seem to have a personal interest in him. You would think a man of his stature would have someone to take care of election donation paperwork that knows what they’re doing. Sure sounds like the Kents and Jones didn’t know what they were doing either. Maybe he can get them to pay his bill??
Thank you Jon Stadille, I don’t know much about Mr. Anselmo except he built a beautiful restaurant that pissed off somone in Shasta County, probably didn’t like the competition or something of that nature. The fact that he contributed to Mr. Moty’s recall suggests to me that he is on the side of fighting corruption in Shasta County. Also, it is fitting that ANewsCafe is the one who turned him in, as they hate anything conservative. I will stand in support of Mr. Anselmo. Also, thank you to Mr Patrick Jones, whose explanation makes perfect sense. The left is, as usual, trying to make a mountain out of a molehill.
Barb: To be clear, the molehill you refer to is the breaking of California law.
Thank you for that! I was his chef for eight years. I know much more than the simple minded idiots on this thread! I basically lived there. They have no idea how many millions of dollars he has spent pulling people out of danger and out of poverty because of social liberalism! Remember, the left lives on greed and jealousy! That’s all they have.
Ahhh, there it is. You worked for him, and that’s why you’re being a good little… towards him, never mind how batshit you are about the “liberal socialism” that has never existed in this county that has been heavily red for at least since I was born in the 80’s and even before that. Why you need to rely on made up propaganda to make horrible points is beyond me
He didn’t build it. He bought it.
You know nothing about that property and what he personally did! The man is an excellent builder and knows a lot about design. He’s also responsible, for putting a satellite in space! What did you do all your life!?
Jon: I have edited your comment to remove several unhelpful jabs and obscenities. The meaning remains the same.
You write, “He is trying to save Shasta County for liberal socialism!” You may want to rethink your word choice. Of course, that assumes you are capable of critical thought as opposed to stimulus response.
You make me laugh Jon.
Liberal Socialism in Shasta County, you must be delusional. Keep taking your meds.
Bless your heart. We see your fear, and raise you the fact that it’s not 1955 anymore, and you’re going to be fine.
Anselmo is about Revenge.
Simple fact
This makes my day. Hopefully, they will be able to do something about Jones and Crye. I am so sick and tired of their antics.
Sure, Anselmo didn’t understand Shasta County filing requirements. He was a former Shasta County resident.