03.25.08
Anish Eapen, ward superintendent for Alderman Bernard Stone (50th), was indicted Monday for allegedly using his badge and business cards to manipulate absentee votes in two hotly contested elections. Eapen and Armando Ramos were indicted on multiple counts of absentee ballot violations and mutilation of election materials, according to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office. Assistant State’s Attorney Lynn McCarthy said Eapen misled voters about who could vote via absentee ballot, collected ballots from voters' homes, sat in the same room with voters as they voted, and mailed the ballots for them. In one instance, McCarty said, Eapen marked a ballot for a voter before sealing the envelope and mailing the ballot. Both men are scheduled to be arraigned on April 9. WBBM News Radio 780 has more on the story here.

12.30.07
Bond has been set in the cases of Anish Eapen and Armando Ramos who were arrested on January 28 for absentee ballot fraud and mutilation of election materials. Bond was set at $50,000 for Eapen, a Ward Superintendent, and $40,000 for Ramos. Cook County assistant state's attorney Lynn McCarthy said that Eapen misled voters about who could vote via absentee ballot, collected ballots from voters' homes, sat in the same room with voters as they voted, and mailed the ballots for them. Ramos likewise is said to have solicited voters to vote absentee, collected completed ballots, and mailed them for voters. The two men allegedly worked to improperly steer absentee ballots in support of Chicago Alderman Bernard Stone (D-50th). The Chicago Sun-Times has more on the story here. The Chicago Sun-Times has more on the story here.

12.29.07
Two men, including a ward superintendent, have been arrested and charged for their role in a Chicago absentee ballot fraud scheme. Ward Superintendent Anish Eapen has been charged with two counts of official misconduct, three counts of absentee ballot fraud, and one count of mutilation of election materials. Eapen allegedly worked in tandem with Armando Ramos, an unemployed student. Ramos faces two counts of absentee ballot fraud and two counts of mutilation of election materials. A source familiar with the investigation said Eapen and Ramos “would target different people—primarily Indian and Pakistani voters—and suggest that they take absentee ballots. They would give them reasons why they should be taking absentee ballots—not necessarily valid reasons. They would be present when they filled out the application for the absentee ballot and, in some instances, they would bring the absentee ballot back to the people to vote.” The two men allegedly worked to improperly steer absentee ballots in support of Alderman Bernard Stone (D-50th). The Chicago Sun-Times has more on the story here.

12.18.07
A federal appellate court has ordered former East St. Louis Democratic Central Committee chairman Charlie Powell to be resentenced for vote fraud, saying his 21-month sentence is not long enough. Powell was convicted of orchestrating a conspiracy to pay voters either $5 or $10 apiece to vote for a slate of Democratic candidates in the 2004 election. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals vacated Powell's sentence and remanded the matter back to the U.S. District Court. The appellate court also affirmed the vote fraud and conspiracy convictions of Powell, former precinct committeemen Jesse Lewis and Sheila Thomas, and former city director of regulatory affairs, Kelvin Ellis, all of East St. Louis. (“Federal appellate court: Powell must be resentenced on voter fraud,” The Belleville News Democrat, 12/18/07)

09.07.07
According to the Chicago Tribune and KWQC-TV6 News, authorities announced today that an officer of Teamsters Local 743 in Chicago was indicted along with three former union employees for attempting to fix elections in 2004. Prosecutors allege that the acting president and three former representatives of one of the largest Teamsters locals in the country conspired to rig closely contested union elections to ensure an incumbent slate of officers won. According to the charges filed, the four diverted ballot packages to friends, relatives, and confidants instead of to union members, and the ballots were cast to ensure the re-election of the Unity Slate candidates. The four individuals could face up to five years in prison if convicted. For more on the story from KWQC-TV6 News, click here. (“Brief: Teamsters indicted in union vote fraud case”, Chicago Tribune, 11/7/07)

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