Vander Beatty, a former New York state senator, was convicted of multiple criminal charges, including forgery and conspiracy, in relation to election fraud. He led others in a scheme to forge hundreds of voter registration cards to challenge the result of the 1982 congressional primary that he lost. He was sentenced to 16 months in […]
John O’Hara deliberately registered to vote using his girlfriend’s address so that he could continue to vote and run for office in his old district. District lines were changed in 1992 during redistricting, prompting O’Hara to use the address, despite it not being his permanent residence. He was sentenced to 1,500 hours of community service […]
Dominick Forte pleaded guilty to a felony forgery charge in connection with election misconduct as the leader of the Town of Cornwall’s Conservative Party committee. Forte admitted to signing fake signatures on nominating petitions in a race for a county legislature seat. He was sentenced to a conditional discharge.
Debra Ortutay, former Rockland County Independence Party chairwoman, pleaded guilty to multiple criminal charges in relation to fraudulent petition signatures and perjury before a grand jury. She had signed ballot petitions multiple times and falsely claimed that she had witnessed voters signing them. Ortutay was sentenced to four months in jail and five years’ probation.
Fran Knapp, former Dutchess County Democratic Elections Commissioner, pleaded guilty to signing a poll watcher’s certificate while unauthorized in 2012 and falsifying a treasurer’s report for her husband’s 2007 Poughkeepsie mayoral campaign (both misdemeanors). As part of a plea agreement, she agreed to resign and pay a $175 fine.