that each contributed the maximum of $250,000 to the second inauguration of President George W. Bush. Writes USA Today, "Inaugural fundraisers Dawn and Roland Arnall found a creative way to pump more than the $250,000 limit into the event. Their mortgage firm, Ameriquest Capital, contributed the maximum, as did three subsidiaries, for a total of $1 million. The company declined to comment on its political giving." In order to circumvent campaign finance laws, Arnall mandated that Ameriquest staffers, on company time, solicit campaign contributions from vendors and directed to selected candidates, including Antonio Villaraigosa, Mayor of Los Angeles from 2005 to 2013. Arnall's contributions to Republican Bush were a change of heart, and the result of Arnall's support for Bush's middle east policies post 9/11. Previously, Arnall was a long-time Democratic Party supporter and fundraiser. His wedding to Dawn Arnall was officiated by Democratic California Governor Gray Davis. Arnall was also an ardent supporter and fundraiser for Los Angeles Mayor Democrat Antonio Villaraigosa. Last will and testament SHMAIS.com (Lubavitch News Website) reported that Chabad of California was to be the beneficiary of an $18 million donation from the estate of Roland Arnall. According to their source, before his death, he made arrangements for Rabbi Shlomo Cunin to receive the donation, and a short while later sent in a down payment of $180,000. Arnall made three payments of $180,000 each to Chabad before dying of cancer in March 2008; after his death, Chabad sought payment for what it said was the balance of his pledge. Arnall's widow, Dawn Arnall, denied that the payments made by her late husband had been part of a pledge. On January 25, 2013 a California appeals court affirmed a lower court's ruling denying a claim from Chabad of California Inc. of an $18-million pledge that the local Jewish nonprofit group said was promised to it by Arnall. References Links Ameriquest Mortgage Illegal Purchase of Consumer Credit Reports for Target Marketing and Privacy Law Violations Meet the biggest predatory lender in Cleveland -- America's new ambassador to the Netherlands., Cleveland Scene magazine. Forbes Magazine top 400 entry for Roland Arnall Los Angeles Times: Roland Arnall, 68; founder of subprime specialist Ameriquest Workers Say Lender Ran 'Boiler Rooms' , Los Angeles Times, February 4, 2005 Embassy Biography 1939 births 2008 deaths American billionaires American people of French-Jewish descent French emigrants to the United States Businesspeople from Los Angeles