SantaCon founder arrested as the feds label popular holiday event a ‘con’

NewsWorldAmericasUS Crime NewsSantaCon organizer arrested as the feds label popular holiday event a ‘con’Federal authorities say he donated only a small fraction of the $2.7 million he raised through SantaCon charity events Via AP news wire Wednesday 15 April 2026 18:40 BSTBookmarkBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popover{"translations":{"comments":"Go to comments","share":"Share","copyLink":"Copy link","bookmark":"Bookmark","removeBookmark":"Remove bookmark"},"showComments":false,"showBookmark":true,"articleId":"CF1:2958399To1","articleMeta":{"url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/stefan-pildes-santacon-arrest-fraud-charges-charity-b2958420.html","title":"SantaCon organizer arrested as the feds label popular holiday event a ‘con’"}}open image in gallery{"id":"trigger-autogallery-16018","index":0}Pildes was arrested Wednesday in Manhattan and was set to appear before a judge (AP)The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekdayYour briefing on the latest headlines from across the USYour briefing on the latest headlines from across the USEmail*SIGN UPI would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice{"className":"sc-1ge0fwe-0","newsletterData":{"regSourceNewsletter":"IND_Evening_Newsletter","regTitle":"Evening Headlines","subscriptionGroup":"us_evening_headlines","subscriptionGroupId":"4326e634-422a-4447-8e1e-604a937cd3b5","type":"daily_news","pathPrefix":["/us","/news/world/americas","/news/world/americas/crime"],"title":"The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday","mobileTitle":"Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US","imageSrc":"https://static.independent.co.uk/static-assets/images/newsletters/usEveningHeadlines1_1.png","label":"I would like to receive morning headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts by email","newsletterKey":"receiveEveningHeadlinesUSN...