July 29, 2011
Office of The Attorney General
– Paula T. Dow, Attorney General
Division of Criminal Justice
– Stephen J. Taylor, Director
Media Inquiries-
Peter Aseltine
609-292-4791
Citizen Inquiries-
609-292-4925
Former Campaign Worker in Essex County Pleads Guilty to Ballot Fraud in 2007 Races in 29th Legislative District
TRENTON – Attorney General Paula T. Dow and Criminal Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor announced that a Newark man pleaded guilty today to submitting fraudulent absentee ballots while working for the 2007 campaign of Teresa Ruiz for the New Jersey Senate in the 29th District.
According to Director Taylor, , 48, of Newark, pleaded guilty to a charge of second-degree election fraud before Superior Court Judge Pedro J. Jimenez Jr. in Mercer County. Under his plea agreement, the state will recommend that be sentenced to three years in state prison. Judge Jimenez scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 11, 2012.
“We will not tolerate conduct that deprives citizens of the right to vote or corrupts the free and fair election process that is the foundation of our democracy,” said Attorney General Dow. “This prosecution should serve as a deterrent to those who would attempt to illegally manipulate the election process in New Jersey.”
“We will thoroughly investigate any allegations of voter fraud and aggressively prosecute individuals who are found to have disenfranchised voters,” said Director Taylor. “ admitted that he fraudulently submitted messenger ballots on behalf of voters without their knowledge, and we know that, in at least once instance, it resulted in a voter being turned away at a polling place.”
The charge stems from an investigation by the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Corruption Unit. Deputy Attorney General Vincent J. Militello took the guilty plea for the state.
On March 3, 2010, Gianine Narvaez, 38, of Belleville, a former data processing technician for the Essex County Commissioner of Registration and Superintendent of Elections, pleaded guilty to absentee ballot fraud and tampering with public records or information, both third-degree offenses. She is awaiting sentencing. The state will recommend that she be sentenced to three years in prison, including a mandatory two-year term of parole ineligibility. She forfeited her job and public pension, and she is permanently barred from public employment in New Jersey.
In March 2011, Ruiz’s husband, former Essex County Freeholder Samuel Gonzalez, agreed to forfeit his seat on the freeholder board and his position as an aide to Newark City Councilman Anibal Ramos and was admitted into the Pre-Trial Intervention Program by Judge Jimenez. If he successfully completes the program, charges filed against him in the case will be dismissed.
The defendants were charged in multiple indictments in connection with absentee ballots they collected and submitted as workers for Ruiz’s 2007 campaign for the New Jersey Senate. They were charged with tampering with documentation for messenger ballots and fraudulently submitting such ballots as votes in the Nov. 6, 2007 general election. They were charged with fraudulently submitting absentee ballots on behalf of residents who never received the ballots or had an opportunity to cast their votes.
At the time of the election, messenger ballots were only for voters homebound due to illness, infirmity or disability. Such persons can complete an application designating a messenger or bearer who is a family member or a registered voter in the county. The bearer is authorized to obtain an absentee ballot from the county board of elections, take it to the voter, and return a completed ballot to the county board. New rules regarding such ballots have since been adopted.
The investigation was led for the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau by Deputy Attorney General Militello, Deputy Attorney General Perry Primavera, Deputy Attorney General Christopher Romanyshyn, Sgt. James Scott and Sgt. Lisa Shea. It was conducted for the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Corruption Unit by former Assistant Prosecutor Brandon Minde, Detective David Sanabria and Detective Elizabeth Bazan. Valuable assistance was provided by Analyst Kathleen Ratliff and all of the detectives in the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau North.
Attorney General Dow and Director Taylor noted that the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau has established a toll-free tipline 1-866-TIPS-4CJ for the public to report corruption, financial crime and other illegal activities. Additionally, the public can log on to the Division of Criminal Justice Web page at www.njdcj.org to report suspected wrongdoing. All information received through the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Tipline or Web page will remain confidential.
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