A former Atlantic city councilman who went to prison for bribery and sexual extortion is facing charges again.
Craig Carraway, 64, is a popular political organizer and operative in and around Atlantic City, known for his ability to deliver large numbers of absentee ballots to election officials that often determine the outcome of elections. . But he was arrested Thursday and charged with election fraud, including the misuse of absentee ballots. The charges had long been criticized by political opponents.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Caraway was charged with “depriving, defrauding, and attempting to deprive and defraud the residents of New Jersey a fair and impartial election process by procuring, mailing, and tabulating fraudulent ballots.” It was announced that he had been indicted. . ”
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“Holding free and fair elections is a fundamental principle of our democracy,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew Scahill. “Today’s charges reflect our office’s commitment to holding accountable those who seek to undermine the electoral process.”
Called by phone, Caraway’s attorney, Megan Davis, said she was on her way to court and was not immediately available for comment Thursday. She sent a message to Calloway’s phone, but she did not immediately receive a reply.
Prosecutors said Caraway and others working at his direction paid between $30 and $50 to people who applied to be messengers to voters who allegedly wanted to vote by mail.
Former Atlantic City, N.J., City Councilman Craig Carraway shakes hands with his attorney after his sentencing hearing on December 4, 2008 in Mays Landing, N.J. (Danny Drake/Atlantic City Reporter, Associated Press, File)
They went to the county clerk’s office, signed the messenger portion of the ballot application, and received a ballot to give to the voter listed on the application.
However, after receiving the mail-in ballots, these purported emissaries left the county clerk’s office and instead handed the ballots to Callaway or his subordinates, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Many of the mail-in ballots collected by Caraway and his staff were ultimately cast in the names of people confirmed not to have voted in person or by mail in the 2022 general election, the office said. Ta. Those voters also said Mr. Caraway, his subordinates and others had no authority to vote for them. Many of these mail-in ballots were counted in the election.
Caraway was previously sentenced to 40 months in state prison for bribery while a city councilman. While awaiting release to prison on that charge, he orchestrated a sex sting operation against his political opponent, fellow City Councilman Eugene Robinson.
In 2006, he rented two rooms in a motel on the outskirts of town. The co-defendant installed a hidden camera inside a clock radio in one of the rooms, and a video recorder was installed in the next room.
FBI agents said in court documents that Carraway and others paid prostitutes $150 to $200 to lure Robinson, a Baptist minister, to motels and have sex with them, then released the tapes to media outlets if Robinson did not comply. He said he threatened to send her to Resign.
Instead, Robinson filed a complaint with authorities, and Carraway was sentenced to three years in state prison. Robinson, who has since died, said the sex was consensual and that the money he gave the woman was to buy soda.
Callaway was released in 2010 and immediately resumed collecting and delivering absentee ballots. The unsuccessful candidate’s campaign had long accused him of wrongdoing, but Mr. Caraway was not indicted until Thursday.
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The election fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
