SantaCon

== Corruption allegations ==

== Corruption allegations ==

In 2023, an analysis by the news site [[Gothamist]] found that the nonprofit organisation behind SantaCon NYC, Participatory Safety, “raised $1.4 million through SantaCon programming from late 2014 through the end of 2022,” but that “less than a fifth of that money has gone to registered nonprofits.{{Cite web |last=KailathShare |first=Ryan |date=2023-12-08 |title=SantaCon raises money for charity. They've spent a lot on crypto and Burning Man. |url=https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/santacon-raises-money-for-charity-theyve-spent-a-lot-on-crypto-and-burning-man |access-date=2026-04-16 |website=Gothamist |language=en}}” Gothamist found that more than a third of the organization’s total giving went to groups or individuals who appear connected to [[Burning Man]].

In 2023, an analysis by the news site [[Gothamist]] found that the nonprofit organisation behind SantaCon NYC, Participatory Safety, “raised $1.4 million through SantaCon programming from late 2014 through the end of 2022,” but that “less than a fifth of that money has gone to registered nonprofits.{{Cite web |last=Kailath |first=Ryan |date=2023-12-08 |title=SantaCon raises money for charity. They've spent a lot on crypto and Burning Man. |url=https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/santacon-raises-money-for-charity-theyve-spent-a-lot-on-crypto-and-burning-man |access-date=2026-04-16 |website=Gothamist |language=en}}” Gothamist found that more than a third of the organization’s total giving went to groups or individuals who appear connected to [[Burning Man]].

In April 2026, the lead organizer of SantaCon NYC and director of Participatory Safety, Stefan Pildes, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of [[Embezzlement|embezzling]] more than half of the $3 million the event raised for charity over five years. [[Jay Clayton (attorney)|Jay Clayton]], the [[United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York|U.S. Attorney in Manhattan]], said in a statement that “Stefan Pildes promoted SantaCon as an event grounded in charitable giving, but instead of donating the millions of dollars he raised, he ran his own con game.” Pildis was charged with one count of [[Mail and wire fraud|wire fraud]], and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. {{Cite news |last=Shanahan |first=Ed |date=2026-04-15 |title=SantaCon Leader Ran His Own $1 Million Con Game, U.S. Says |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/15/nyregion/santacon-wire-fraud-stefan-pildes.html |access-date=2026-04-15 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

In April 2026, the lead organizer of SantaCon NYC and director of Participatory Safety, Stefan Pildes, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of [[Embezzlement|embezzling]] more than half of the $3 million the event raised for charity over five years. [[Jay Clayton (attorney)|Jay Clayton]], the [[United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York|U.S. Attorney in Manhattan]], said in a statement that “Stefan Pildes promoted SantaCon as an event grounded in charitable giving, but instead of donating the millions of dollars he raised, he ran his own con game.” Pildis was charged with one count of [[Mail and wire fraud|wire fraud]], and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. {{Cite news |last=Shanahan |first=Ed |date=2026-04-15 |title=SantaCon Leader Ran His Own $1 Million Con Game, U.S. Says |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/15/nyregion/santacon-wire-fraud-stefan-pildes.html |access-date=2026-04-15 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}