[BREAKING] Controversial Mamdani-backed NY-13 candidate doles out seemingly illegal freebies, from ice cream to World Cup tix

A controversial leftist congressional candidate from New York is offering covered World Cup tickets to campaign volunteers (and free ice cream to early voters), apparently violating federal election laws and potentially FIFA, The Post has learned.

Experts said the gifts offered by Darializa Avila Chevalier's insurgent campaign appear to violate Federal Electoral Commission guidelines that strictly prohibit rewarding volunteers with benefits and offering payments, including free food, in exchange for voter participation.

"It looks like they're paying people to vote, which, of course, is illegal," said Fordham Law professor Jerry Goldfeder.

The campaign of the Democratic Socialists of America challenger, who is running to unseat veteran Rep.

Adriano Espaillat in New York's House District 13, posted the ice cream deal on Instagram Thursday.

“Ice cream for NY-13 early voters!” The emoji-ridden post read, with instructions: "Vote early and keep your sticker!" On Friday the 19th, come to a poll in West, Central, or East Harlem and show your sticker to one of our field leaders for a Sugar Hill Creamery token.

Use the token at Sugar Hill Creamery to get a free cup of ice cream!! It adds: "*Toppings, cones or other extras at additional cost," along with a red heart emoji.

A day earlier, Avila Chevalier, on his official X campaign account, announced that four volunteers would have the opportunity to win prized seats for the Panama vs.

Panama World Cup match.

England on June 27.

“Ask Darializa for a chance to win tickets for prime seats at the World Cup,” the post read, instructing volunteers to collect trading cards for each campaign shift completed in exchange for entering the raffle.

Paying or offering an expense or gift in exchange for voting is a federal crime.

The Department of Justice defines a “payment” as anything that has monetary value, such as free food.

The FEC also sets strict rules when it comes to campaign volunteers, making clear that the moment an unpaid worker receives a gift or transfer of monetary value, the organization is no longer legally considered a volunteer.

"The campaign cannot pay admission to sporting events, concerts, theater and other forms of entertainment," the rules page on the FEC website states.

It is unclear whether Avila Chevalier's campaign paid for both the World Cup tickets and the Sugar Hill Creamery tokens, as recent transactions were not immediately publicly available.

But the campaign promoting and offering gifts alone could potentially violate FEC rules.

"They're rules for you but not for me.

Either they don't know the rules or they don't care," said Chris Coffey, a partner at the political consulting firm Tusk Strategies.

"Still, if the other side was giving away impossible-to-get World Cup tickets, they would be leading protests in front of his (Espaillat's) office," Coffey said of Avila Chevalier's opponent.

"Candidates should be careful about incentivizing volunteer work through stunts like this," another Democrat said.

operative, who declined to be identified.

"It fits the bill perfectly." Avila Chevalier's campaign did not respond to requests for comment, nor did FIFA and Sugar Hill Creamery.

Avila Chevalier, who was endorsed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani in the June 23 Democratic primary, is a doctoral candidate who provides legal aid as part of her work as a researcher at the Legal Aid Society.

He recently faced a firestorm over his resurgence of s.

Trends Updates - Daily News USA