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TagsAccused of tampering with absentee ballots in city council election
Eleven people have been arrested since Tuesday in connection with alleged voter fraud schemes involving the May Paterson city council election, state Attorney General Paula T. Dow announced Wednesday.
These people were arrested Tuesday on charges of second- and third-degree voter fraud and third-degree tampering with public record: Belkis M. Cespedes, 50; Ana Vely-Gomez, 47; Lucia A. Guzman, 41; Inocencio Jimenez, 55, all of Paterson, and Jose Ramon Ruiz, 62, of Prospect Park. In addition, Dalila Rodriguez, 60, and Wilson A. Torres, 29, both of Paterson were arrested Tuesday on charges of third-degree voter fraud and third-degree tampering with public records.
These people were arrested Wednesday and charged with third-degree voter fraud and third-degree tampering with public records: Octavio A. Dominguez, 47, of Elmwood Park, and Juana A. Gil, 43; Jose E. Gonzalez, 42, and Loudes Inoa, 37, all of Paterson.
All of the accused were arrested by troopers of the State Police Official Corruption North Unit and were taken to the Totowa Station, issued complaint summonses and released. They will be ordered to appear at the state Superior Court in Paterson at a date yet to be determined.In addition, Ricardo A. Fermin-Cepeda, 24, of Paterson, was charged with second- and third-degree voter fraud and third-degree tampering with public records. Fermin-Cepeda is currently a fugitive.
The accused allegedly acted as bearers or messengers for mail-in absentee ballots. The complaint summonses allege that the accused tampered with mail-in ballots or voted mail-in ballots on behalf of voters who did not receive the ballots or who did not authorize them to vote for them.
It is also alleged that Cespedes voted twice — once using her married named of Belkis Cespedes and once using her maiden name of Belkis Nunez.
Following the May city council election, the state Division of Criminal Justice received complaints of possible voter fraud. The Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau and the State Police launched an investigation approximately a week after the election.
The case stems from the election of Councilman-at-Large Rigo Rodriquez.
The investigation is being coordinated by State Police Det. Brian Murphy and Deputy Attorney General Vincent Militello.
Second-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison and a criminal fine of $150,000, while third-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of five years in state prison and a $15,000 fine.
Because the charges are indictable offenses, the case is subject to presentation to a grand jury for potential indictment.
— TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
