Five charged with vote fraud in East St. Louis

[tritsofme]

Five people, including the head of the East St. Louis Democratic central
committee, were named today in a federal indictment alleging voter fraud in
2004.

The indictment says the five took part in a conspiracy to pay voters for their
votes in the Nov. 2, 2004, general election.

Named in the indictment are Charles Powell Jr., head of the city's Democratic
committee, along with Jesse Lewis, Sheila Thomas and Kelvin Ellis, Democratic
precinct committeemen, and Yvette Johnson, a precinct worker.

Ronald J. Tenpas, U.S. Attorney for southern Illinois, also announced that four
people -- Leroy Scott Jr., Lillie Nichols, Terrance Stith and Sandra Stith --
had pleaded guilty to paying voters in the November 2004 general election at
the direction of Powell.

Sentencing for those four was set for June 3. Each faces a possible sentence
of five years in prison and a fine up to $250,000.

<SNIP>
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/emaf.nsf/Popup?ReadForm&db=stltoday%5Cnews%5Cstories.nsf&docid=A9D8ACA7263CDC6F86256FCD0070E70E

[shraby]

1. I notice they still haven't done anything

about that group that was tearing up Dem. registrations.

[GetTheRightVote]

2. It is a sad day to hear about this but they do need to get reg tear people

as well for all justice to be served.

:kick:

[KaliTracy]

3. oh, that. just a "clerical error" -- we're sorry for the inconvenience it

may have caused, but we don't feel that it really effected the election in any way, after all, Our Leader had over 3 million votes for the popular vote, which proves how very loved he is, and that he deserves to exercise his capital and establish his mandate.

Rest assured, the people involved (it was only 2 or 3 anyway) have had their meager pay docked, and their one sick day has been taken away. We'll fire them if they are out more than one day, even if their kids get sick.

We trust that the American People have all but forgotten about this, anyway.....


/sarcasm

[Wilms]

4. How do we get from indictment to sentencing without going through trial?

:shrug:



-on edit-
Oh I know how... :scared:

[KaliTracy]

5. the Republicans own the courts? *sigh*

:scared:

[KaliTracy]

6. are you reading minds again? lol

:hi:

[Wilms]

9. That's the second time this week, Kali!

But as you see from post 7, we really screwed that up.

I guess I've been thinking too much about the CIA "Rendering" people.

[KaliTracy]

11. *smile* --- guess great minds that think alike can mess up alike too....

LOL ;)

[NYC]

7. Different people being sentenced.

The people indicted today:

Named in the indictment are Charles Powell Jr., head of the city's Democraticcommittee, along with Jesse Lewis, Sheila Thomas and Kelvin Ellis, Democratic precinct committeemen, and Yvette Johnson, a precinct worker.



The four people who will be sentenced June 3rd:

...also announced that four people -- Leroy Scott Jr., Lillie Nichols, Terrance Stith and Sandra Stith -- had pleaded guilty to paying voters in the November 2004 general election at the direction of Powell.

Sentencing for those four was set for June 3. Each faces a possible sentence of five years in prison and a fine up to $250,000.

[Wilms]

8. I owe you...

had pleaded guilty

Doh!

[NYC]

10. Well, I hope it makes you feel better.

From indictment to sentencing was as frightening as from arrest to long term incarceration without being charged (something we know is happening).

[KaliTracy]

12. *sigh*..... yes... unfortunately 'tis true. sometimes I want to hide

under the covers for the next few years, and hope the "correction" (pendulum swing from right to left) happens again, but I'm too damn angry to just hide. :mad: SOMEHOW this Administration has to become accountable!

[Moderator]

13. kick to combine

[AllegroRondo]

14. Five charged with ESL election fraud (East St Louis)

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/6B8245493931044C86256FCE00178EC8?OpenDocument

The head of the East St. Louis Central Democratic Committee and others bought votes in a 2004 election that included hotly contested races for Illinois Supreme Court justice and St. Clair County Board chairman, according to federal indictments made public Wednesday.

Besides committee Chairman Charles Powell, the accused include Kelvin Ellis, director of regulatory affairs for the city, who was named in an earlier indictment that among other things accused him of trying to arrange the murder of a witness against him in a vote fraud investigation.

U.S. Attorney Ron Tenpas said some of the money used to sway the vote came from the St. Clair County Democratic Party, but he stressed that the indictments didn't indicate that county Democrats were aware the money was used for vote buying.

Tenpas didn't say how much the authorities believe was paid out or how many votes they believe were affected.

[Frances]

15. Will the Bushes be indicted for using our taxpayer money

to buy votes of people in South Florida (FEMA money passed out after the hurricane with no questions asked)

[Festivito]

16. Ellis and Powell, good Repub names? How does one buy a vote?

Ellis, as is John Ellis Bush (JEB). Powell as in Colin. Just a strange coincidence? The Ellis guy remains in jail because he has IRS trouble... ripe for a deal to testify against Dems?

And, the article sentences. soooo loooong. Starting with a way to include "Democrat" in the first few words. Then saying, perhaps the Democrats did not know votes were being bought. Discussion of monies concerned paying people to get out the vote, not vote buying.

And, how does one buy a vote? Do you pay someone to stand over someone while they push the buttons? Very costly. Not that is cannot be done, but, on a scale large enough to buy an election, the poll workers would not allow people standing over voters.