Posted on 01/30/2006 11:01:59 AM PST by GeneD
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. - A former Democratic election worker in this impoverished city was sentenced Monday to a year and a half in federal prison for scheming to buy votes in the November 2004 election. A City Hall volunteer also accused in the scheme was given probation.
U.S. District Judge G. Patrick Murphy said the case reflected an American election process "under attack" by fraud.
Former precinct committee member Sheila Thomas and her attorney, Paul Sims, declined to comment after the sentencing. Yvette Johnson told reporters: "I'm just glad that it's over."
The two were convicted last year of felony conspiracy to commit vote fraud, along with a local Democratic Party chairman, a former city official and another precinct worker who are expected to be sentenced in February.
Prosecutors said the defendants schemed to buy votes with cash, cigarettes and liquor. Their case rested largely on secretly recorded audiotapes in which the defendants could be heard talking about paying $2, $5 or more per vote to get key Democrats elected in East St. Louis.
The city of 31,500 people, across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, became one of the nation's poorest cities with the decline of its smokestack factories and the exodus of whites in the 1960s. Its schools were broke for years and the deed to City Hall once went to a man to cover a multimillion-dollar judgment over a jail beating.
Its an expensive culture. Marlboros go for $25/carton, or so I'm told.
East Saint an impoverished city???
Wow, the dumocrats must have buying votes there for a long time. That's what happens when they're in charge.
RAT cheating goes on across the country during every election cycle.
Will this be on CNN?
"Its an expensive culture. Marlboros go for $25/carton, or so I'm told."
25 per carton is cheap.
Lessee....10 packs to the carton. That's $2.50 per vote. If the Donks were smart, they'd open up those packs and hand out one or two smokes, instead of a whole pack.
Dems acting like dems...
You went to school in East St. Louis, didn't you?
The noose is tightening around the evil donkey's neck. Voter fraud will continue to get harder to do. The rat will continue to lose in some places because of the end of voter fraud. Any questions?
Blame Whitey.
No. You had it right the first time.
No it's CUREuption. Cause the Democrats are going to CURE the whole village whether they like it or not.
East St. Louis: Urban paradise, after decades of New Dealism, affirmative actions, etc.
Perhaps you missed where I asked you yesterday...
What's wrong with, "Its schools were broke for years"?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.