Atlantic City's former council president pleads guilty to ballot fraud
Former Atlantic City council president Craig Callaway pleaded guilty to voter fraud charges over his role in a 2022 mail ballot fraud scheme that saw voters' mail ballots collected and cast without their knowledge.
Callaway, a Democratic operative first charged a year ago, admitted in federal court in Camden Thursday that he and others paid individuals $30 to $50 to act as messengers for would-be voters. Callaway and his subordinates would fill those ballots before having them returned, the operative admitted.
'The defendant admitted to depriving New Jersey residents of a fair election by participating in a scheme to cast ballots for voters who did not vote in the election,' said acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna. 'Along with our law enforcement partners, we are committed to prosecuting those who criminally seek to undermine impartially conducted elections.'
Numerous residents, in whose names mail ballots were cast and collected as part of the scheme, told authorities they did not vote that year or authorize Callaway, his subordinates, or others to cast ballots on their behalf.
Still, their ballots were delivered directly to Callaway or his subordinates.
At the time, Callaway was working for the reelection campaign of Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-02), who has denied knowledge of the scheme.
Callaway faces up to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and three years of supervised release for the single charge of procuring, casting, and tabulating fraudulent ballots.
Sentencing is set for June 17.
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