Former campaign worker found guilty of stealing $225K from Max Linn

ELLSWORTH, Maine (WABI) - A former campaign worker accused of stealing money from the late U.S. Senate candidate Max Linn has been found guilty.

Matthew McDonald was accused of stealing $225,000 from Linn in 2021.

The trial began Wednesday in Ellsworth, and Thursday, he was found guilty of theft by deception and theft by unauthorized taking.

McDonald was supposed to invest the money in cryptocurrency under Linn’s name.

Prosecutors say Linn never saw the return of this money because McDonald misused the funds.

His bank records showed he used the money for gambling, personal expenses and day-trading stocks and crypto for himself.

McDonald’s defense claimed Linn knew McDonald had no experience in finance despite placing him in charge of crypto trading.

Taking the stand himself, McDonald claimed there was an immense power imbalance between himself and Linn, stating he worked on his U.S. Senate campaign without proper pay, and accused Linn of being “violent” and “abusive.”

McDonald says he withheld the information about the loss of funds because he was scared of Linn’s reaction.

Despite Linn’s passing in Dec. 2021, prosecutors say it was still important to pursue the charges.

“The rights of crime victims don’t pass along when they pass along,” explains Maine Assistant Attorney General Charles Boyle. “The importance in prosecuting some of these crimes is not just to find justice for the crime victims, but to protect the whole community.”

Boyle says McDonald is currently out on personal recognizance bail.

A date for McDonald’s sentencing has not been set.