Convicted Dentist Donated to Carson Campaign

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

The longtime friend and convicted felon who counts Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson as a business partner donated $5,400 to the physician's campaign committee in May.
Campaign finance records show Alfonso Costa of Pittsburgh made the donation on May 14, but had $2,700 refunded to him apparently because the donation exceeded the legal limit.
Federal Election Commission records show the refund was dated May 25, the same day Costa's wife, Mary, wrote the candidate a $2,700 check.
The report states that the contributions were made through Carson America. The Costa's list their address in Wellington, Fla., where his company, Costa Land Company owns properties.
As reported last week Costa was convicted in 2008 on charges that he and a partner in a dental practice had defrauded insurance companies on medical claims.
Costa and Carson have many ties including an investment in a Pittsburgh area office building.
Following disclosure of their relationship, Carson issued a statement reaffirming his friendship with Costa and making no apologies for it.
In addition to the real estate investment, Costa's wife has been a longtime board member on Carson's charity, the Carson Scholars Fund.
Carson's endorsement of the Carson Land Company property in Positano, Italy appears on the company web site.
Carson is quoted as stating that the villa with its 10,000 square foot mansion "is the most beautifil spot on earth, and God has bless you as you have blessed others."
In an article published in Carson's hometown newspaper, the Baltimore Sun, Carson states that Costa is "a very close friend of mine" and describes the villa as having a five star rating.
"When we are not there and our friends are not there, it is rented for $30,000 to $50,000 per week," Carson states in the article.
 According to the Carson Land Company, other guests at the villa have included Julia Robert, Michael Keaton, Barbara Streisand and Ben Stiller.