Maryland Republicans, including Nino Mangione, paid felon Kelley Rogers over $153K for advice

A Maryland political operative known in GOP circles nationwide — and who went to prison from 2020-22 for scamming donors out of hundreds of thousands of dollars — is back in the political consulting business.

The campaign of Nino Mangione, an incumbent who is running for a seat on the Baltimore County Council, has paid a company called Campaign Communications more than $121,500 for political advice since January 2023, according to records filed with the State Board of Elections. Those records also show that Republican strategist Kelley Rogers, who pleaded guilty to wire fraud and served 2 1/2 years in prison, is an employee of Campaign Communications.

Rogers previously owned the first iteration of Campaign Communications under the trade name Campaign Communications Inc., through his now-defunct political consulting firm, Strategic Campaign Group Inc, according to state records.

Rogers used the Strategic Campaign Group to operate political action committees that fraudulently solicited prospective donors to support various candidates, including former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli. Court records show Rogers used those donors’ contributions to fund himself, his associates and his PACs instead of spending them on the candidates, get-out-the-vote efforts or military veterans he told donors the money was intended for.

Rogers was ordered to pay nearly $500,000 in restitution to more than 7,800 victims and is required to notify “current and future clients” of his conviction.

Campaign finance records show the Maryland House Republican Caucus Committee, the official fundraising arm for Republican state delegates, paid Campaign Communications $6,000 in November 2022, 2 1/2 months after Rogers walked out of prison.

In total, the company has made more than $153,500 by consulting on multiple Republican campaigns, including those for Baltimore County Executive candidate Patrick Dyer, State Senate candidate Kevin Ford and Carroll County School Board member Greg Malveaux, according to a Banner analysis of campaign finance data.

Mangione, Dyer and Ford are vying to become the Republican nominees in their races in Maryland’s primary Tuesday. Malveaux, who did not respond to a request for comment, was elected in November 2024.

Rogers also operated the Conservative Majority Fund, a national PAC. Despite raising $10 million to target former President Barack Obama, the fund spent less than $50,000 in political contributions.

Rogers declined to discuss in detail his return to politics. He did not address whether his criminal record poses ethical concerns for the candidates. He also did not answer whether he directly handled campaign donations for Mangione, Dyer, Ford or Malveaux.

“The matter was years ago, resolved and closed,” he wrote in a text message, referring to his conviction.

Del. Jason Buckel, the state House minority leader, said he never requested Rogers’ services and did not know which candidates had.

“Our campaign account treasurer at the time was James Appel, who we’ve had to replace because of his own legal difficulties,” Buckel wrote in a text message. “We don’t have any invoice records from that period in our possession.”

Appel was accused in a federal indictment in March with routing money from a politician and a nonprofit to refinance his yacht. His case is pending, and he did not respond to a request for comment.

Michael Calva, Mangione’s campaign adviser and chief of staff, said his boss, Dyer and Ford declined to be interviewed.

“This matter was adjudicated and closed years ago,” Calva wrote in a text message. “Our campaigns are thriving and moving forward. We are looking forward to a win on June 23.”

Dyer and Ford are running on the same “Strong Republican Leadership” slate as Mangione, along with Maryland House of Delegate candidates Jeff McDonald and Chuck Murphy.

Rogers’s history with Mangione

Last week, in front of supporters at an early-voting event in Jacksonville, Rogers said he has been working with Mangione since 2015.

“He and I have been together on campaigns for nine years,” Rogers said. “And he started a long time ago preparing to have a life of public service.”

Mangione, a self-described MAGA Republican, often appears at events with his adviser. That has caught the attention of Mangione’s colleagues, including retiring state Sen. Chris West, a moderate Republican.

“I’ve never been able to understand Nino’s reliance on Kelley,” he said. “I don’t care to personally associate myself with people who have that sort of criminal record. But, you know, Nino’s his own person.”

Campaign finance records show Dyer’s campaign cut Campaign Communications a check for nearly $2,000 in April. Ford’s campaign paid the company more than $9,200 from June to September last year.

“I have to assume that Kelley has informed his various clients about his past. I’ve never raised the subject with them,” West said. “I assume they’ve each made the decision that it’s not important enough to discontinue using him.”

Mangione, Dyer and Ford did not address whether Rogers informed them of his conviction and whether that knowledge impacted their decisions to hire him.

‘Bad news’

Mangione, Dyer and Ford’s campaigns have paid Campaign Communications more than $132,000 combined for consulting, media, online advertising, mailing services, field expenses, web development and “salaries and other compensation,” according to campaign finance records.

Andrew Behmke is listed as the individual using Campaign Communications’ trade name, according to state records filed a month before Rogers was released from prison. Behmke did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

During Rogers’ sentencing hearing, U.S. District Court Judge Liam O’Grady read aloud letters from people deceived by the political consultant, according to the court’s transcript, including someone who wrote that his “crimes strike at the heart of America’s political system.”

“This is not garden-variety fraud,” O’Grady told Rogers. “You made a decision to completely ignore your moral compass. You decided, ‘I’m just going to take all this money, and I’m not going to do what I said I’m going to do with it.’”

Theaux Le Gardeur, who is running against Mangione in Tuesday’s primary, said he was shocked by his opponent’s association with Rogers and the relationship was “bad news” for the Republican Party.

“A man is known by the company he keeps,” Le Gardeur said. “It is unacceptable and shows extremely poor judgment and bad decision-making.”

Councilman David Marks, a Perry Hall Republican, declined to comment. Neither Wade Kach, Mangione’s predecessor, nor Councilman Todd Crandell, a Dundalk Republican, responded to requests for comment.

‘He’s our band leader’

With Darius Rucker’s “Wagon Wheel” playing in the background and with wood-fired pizzas catered by Northern Baltimore County’s Brookside Market, Rogers warmly greeted guests, handed out campaign flyers and set up yard signs during an early-voting event June 12.

He sported a white polo shirt emblazoned with Mangione’s campaign logo and cheerfully played the role of emcee.

“We need to vote for all five of these candidates,” he said, urging the few dozen gathered to cast their support for Mangione, Dyer, Ford, Murphy and McDonald.

“We need to do what’s called, in my business, retail politics,” Rogers added, gesturing to the stack of campaign flyers, signs and T-shirts.

The consultant then introduced the crowd to all five Republicans he has been advising. Dyer extended his thanks to Rogers directly.

“He’s done a great job. He’s our band leader. He’s got us playing a fine tune,” Dyer said.

Rogers introduced Mangione last and said he was thrilled about his appointment to the District 5 seat. But the hard work was far from over, he said.

“We got to win this election on Tuesday the 23rd, or he will have the honor of being the shortest-reigning county councilman,” Rogers said to a roar of laughter.

When Mangione took the microphone, he thanked Northern Baltimore County residents and promised never to stab them in the back.

“I’m not an idiot when it comes to politics,” Mangione said. “Nor is Kelley.”