An Israeli who helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for U.S. Rep. Michael Grimm during his 2010 campaign has been arrested in New York on immigration fraud charges.

Businessman Ofer Biton was arraigned Friday at a federal court in Brooklyn on charges that he lied about his finances when he applied two years ago for a special visa available to foreigners who invest $500,000 or more in a U.S. business.

His lawyer, Jeffrey Udell, declined to comment.

The arrest comes amid an ongoing FBI probe of money donated to Grimm's campaign by followers of an Israeli rabbi, Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto.

Biton was formerly a top aide to Pinto, who also has headquarters and a residence in New York. During Grimm's 2010 run, Biton acted as the chief liaison between the Staten Island Republican and potential donors in Pinto's congregation.

Some donors have since said that they broke campaign finance law by donating more money than allowed, or by funneling donations from foreigners who aren't legally allowed to give to U.S. candidates.