And a few days later on Nov. 10 - The NAACP counter charges the FBI and FDLE with "Voter Suppression" because of the charges filed by them in this school board case.
The investigation began in November 2010 after FDLE was contacted by the Department of State’s Division of Elections regarding possible fraud in the 2010 Madison County election. The complaint noted that the District One School Board race, which was won by candidate Abra “Tina” Hill Johnson, had an extraordinarily disproportionate amount of absentee votes.
The investigation revealed that Johnson and her husband, Ernest Sinclair Johnson, Jr., approached voters and obtained their agreement to vote, after which the voters were asked to sign an “Absentee Ballot Request Form.” Without the voters’ knowledge or consent, an alternate address was handwritten on the form, causing the ballots to be mailed to a third party rather than directly to the registered voters. In 2010, Florida law required ballots to be sent to a voter’s registered address unless the voter was absent from the county, hospitalized, or temporarily unable to occupy their residence. The Johnsons retrieved the ballots from the third party locations, brought the ballots to the voter, waited for the person to vote, and then returned the ballots to the Supervisor of Elections. In some instances, the voters were only presented with the absentee ballot signature envelope to sign and never received the actual ballot to cast their vote.
The Johnsons also secured the assistance of several other individuals to unlawfully obtain absentee ballots directly from the Supervisor of Elections. Despite written notice of penalties of perjury, these individuals signed and submitted an “Affidavit to Obtain Absentee Ballot,” claiming to have been authorized by voter to obtain their absentee ballot. These individuals, however, were unknown to the voters.
Abra “Tina” Hill Johnson, 43, was charged with 10 counts of fraud in connection with casting a vote, and two counts of absentee ballots and voting violations. Her husband Ernest Sinclair Johnson, Jr., 45, was charged with 11 counts of fraud in connection with casting votes, one count of corruptly influencing voting, and one count of perjury by false written declaration. Jada Woods Williams, 34, Madison County Supervisor of Elections, was charged with 17 counts of neglect of duty and corrupt practices for allowing the distribution of these absentee ballots, contrary to Florida state statute.
The following individuals, all residents of Madison, Fla., were arrested for their role in the fraud:
* Judy Ann Crumitie, 51, charged with four counts of fraud in connection with casting a vote, and one count of providing a false report to law enforcement authorities
* Laverne V. Haynes, 57, charged with two counts of fraud in connection with casting a vote, two counts of perjury by false written declaration, and one count of providing a false report to law enforcement authorities
* Ora Bell Rivers, 41, charged with seven counts of fraud in connection with casting a vote, three counts of perjury by false written declaration, and one count of providing a false report to law enforcement authorities
* Raven Simona Williams, 20, charged with two counts of fraud in connection with casting a vote, two counts of perjury by false written declaration, and one count of providing a false report to law enforcement authorities
* Shalonda Michaelle Brinson, 36, charged with nine counts of fraud in connection with casting a vote, and one count of provided a false report to law enforcement authorities.
The case will be prosecuted by the State Attorney’s Office, Second Judicial Circuit. The investigation is ongoing and more arrests are possible.
16 comments:
That's what we need now, here; massive involvement of the FBI.
Isn't it interesting that the voter suppression legislation pushed by the Republicans to stop voter fraud never mentioned absentee ballots, the true cause of voter faud. When I asked my state Rep about this at a public meeting, he looked like the proverbial deer in the headlights.
Pubs have gotten very good at absentee ballot fraud so they sure do not want to lose that perk.
They do the same thing in this county and Joe Centorino claims there are no penalties for violations. Why hasn't Lester Sola been charged with neglect of duty and corrupt practices, too?
Republicans? LOL! Every one of these folks is a DEMOCRAT!
if "neglect of duty" is a crime, joe centorino and kathy fernandez rundle both deserve life imprisonment.
NAACP has a tendency to defend its own, even when it's own is indefensible.
No they are obviously Cubans in disguise just like that other infamous Vote fraudster Richard Daley who was really Desi Arnaz in costume.
Last anon, do you think this was a nest of 10 black Republicans? Please be serious. This is yet another absentee voting scandal committed by Democrats.
Republicans support absentee ballot fraud? Where have you been?
This issue is neither Republican nor Democarat. It is both!
It is the culture of corruption which has spread a black cloud over Miami. And, although all elected officials may not be corrupt, most of them are and the majority rules.
Republicans read and support this blog as much as anyone else. So get off our Republican backs with your immature comments.
The nature of this blog is to monitor all sorts of abuses at the hands of elected officials and others. And we support the mission of Eye on Miami as you or anyone else.
That is the beauty of this blog. It reports on everything suspect regardless of political party, religion, race or national origin.
If they didn't, I would not be here!
Healthy deabate is always welcomed and encouraged by intelligent people and should never be dismissed as irrelevant.
The worst thing anyone can do to this blog is to enter into a political party war because neither will win.
Tolerance!
Stop stereotyping people, this is not about parties...you might as well say all Cubans are Republicans.. And you would be wrong.
And thank you Tolerance!!
Lester Sola should be in jail for the way he processed bad Miami-Dade absentee ballots. I also have no faith in his successor Penelope Townsley because she is Sola's protege.
Can someone please tell me why is it that Miami-Dade county residence have allowed Katherine Fernandez-Rundle to fall asleep at the wheels.
Time for a re-call!
Penelope Townsley, Director of Election: Recomended by C.P. Meek and appointed by Mayor Gimenez as a garentee for the black votes.
Corruption and voters fraud are going to be even worst in Miami-Dade County with Carrie Meek lurking in the background doing what she does best - sell out the black communiy to the highest bidder.
"Same Game - Same Players - Different Frontman"
Politicians and crooked county administrators will never be prosecuted as long as Katherine Rundle is at the helm of the State Attorneys Office. Only in Miami!
Come election 2012. Penelope Townsley will be the silenser of the African American community should their vote not counted.
Because they would not want to make her look bad or incompetent.
Great plan Mayor Gimenez.
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