Belleville Man Gets Five Years for Voter Fraud
Fernandez used faked 'messenger ballots' during Ruiz's 2007 campaign
A 61-year-old Belleville man was sentenced Thursday to five years in prison for submitting phony absentee ballots while he was working on the 2007 election campaign of state Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-29). John Fernandez had been found guilty of fraud, forgery, records tampering and conspiracy in September, State Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa said in a statement. Fernandez had also been forced to surrender his job with the Essex County Office of Economic Development. Fernandez took part in a scheme involving “messenger ballots,” which are used by voters homebound by illness or a disability. Fernandez fraudulently obtained the ballots, then filled them out on behalf of voters who had never received them. New rules are now in place regarding …
