Helena-based Democratic campaign treasurer charged in $250,000 embezzlement case

A prominent Helena-based campaign treasurer for Democrats and liberal-leaning causes was charged federally this week for allegedly embezzling more than $253,000 in funds from candidates and organizations.

Abbey Lee Cook was charged Wednesday by the Montana U.S. Attorney's Office with three federal counts of wire fraud after she allegedly transferred money and property without authorization to accounts and entities she controlled through her company, Abbey Lee Cook and Associates LLC, beginning around September 2021.

Candidates, organizations and political action committees will often hire treasurers and compliance officers like Cook to ensure they follow the litany of campaign finance reporting requirements. Through this work, Cook was granted access to bank accounts these entities and individuals used, according to the charging documents.

Each count of wire fraud carries a punishment of up to 20 years in prison and a maximum of a $250,000 fine, but in a plea agreement filed Wednesday, prosecutors indicated they would recommend a favorable sentence for her guilty plea.

Neither Cook nor her attorney responded to multiple requests for comment Thursday.

The federal court filing detailing the wire fraud charges lists six alleged victims, all of whom were allegedly defrauded in amounts as low as $1,600 and as high as $88,209. It is unclear how much cash she actually pocketed, but in the plea agreement, she agreed to pay at least $253,000 in restitution.

The six alleged victims in the scheme are not named in court filings, but both Sen. Cora Neumann, D-Bozeman, and Rep. Zooey Zephyr, D-Missoula, said they plan to file complaints in the coming days with the state’s Commissioner of Political Practices regarding Cook’s work for their campaigns.

“With the federal case still pending, I don't want to comment at this time,” Neumann said in a text message. “Based on her conduct while she was treasurer for my campaign, I will be filing a formal complaint with COPP.”

In Zephyr’s first campaign for the Montana Statehouse, she explained that she did her financial filings herself, but found it stressful and cumbersome, so she hired Cook for her second bid for the House on the recommendation of other Democrats.

But during the 2024 campaign, Zephyr explained that Neumann noticed some discrepancies and contacted Zephyr knowing that Cook was working on her campaign as well.

“Quickly we began working to figure out what happened and how much was taken,” Zephyr said, adding that she ultimately does not know how much may have been stolen, but believes based on the charging documents that she is one of the listed victims.

When asked if she ever confronted Cook with these allegations, Zephyr said that after she spoke with the FBI initially, agents advised her not to contact Cook.

Chris Gallus, the state’s commissioner of political practices, said he first found out about the federal investigation and allegations in early 2025. Once the COPP receives Neumann and Zephyr’s complaints, it will begin to pursue an investigation on a state level, Gallus explained. If the COPP can substantiate the claims, the investigation will be handed over to a county prosecutor who will decide how to proceed.

“I think there is a vital interest in us pursuing these matters aggressively,” Gallus said Thursday.

Gallus explained that treasurers and compliance officers are “often well-trained,” but the job doesn’t require any specific degree, test or training.

In addition to the federal charges, Cook also faces three separate cases in Lewis and Clark County Justice Court in which banks are pursuing her delinquent credit card debt. Cook is alleged to have more than $33,000 in unpaid credit card debt between three different cards.

Cook and her husband moved to Helena in 2020 from New York City and reopened the Windsor Ballroom on the fourth floor of the Iron Front Hotel building, according to an Independent Record story from 2023. They filled the calendar with live music performances and themed parties, but have since shut down operations.

According to her LinkedIn, Cook worked on a New York City-based congressional campaign as the finance director and later the campaign manager from 2017 to 2020. Years before that, she was a legislative aide in the Montana State Senate.

Editor's note: The Independent Record's Sonny Tapia contributed to this report.