By: Tracie Carter
According to a statement released by the U.S. Department of Justice, a former Atlantic City councilman was sentenced to two years in federal prison for orchestrating a scheme to manipulate mail-in ballots during the 2022 general election.
Craig Callaway, 64, who once served as President of the Atlantic City Council and worked as a political organizer in New Jersey, pleaded guilty to federal charges for defrauding residents by interfering with the fair administration of the election.
Federal prosecutors said that in the weeks leading up to the November 2022 election, Callaway and his associates paid individuals in Atlantic City to pose as authorized messengers for voters applying to vote by mail.
These individuals then submitted multiple ballot applications to the Atlantic County Clerk’s Office and obtained mail-in ballots, which were illegally handed over to Callaway or his team.
Investigators later determined that numerous ballots were cast in the names of voters who confirmed they never voted or gave anyone permission to vote on their behalf.
These fraudulent ballots were counted in the final election results.
The sentencing stresses federal authorities’ ongoing efforts to protect election integrity and prevent voter fraud.