by Marcus Ramos | news@queensledger.com
Six campaign volunteers were indicted on July 25 for voter fraud charges for allegedly submitting counterfeit absentee ballots during the 2023 New York City Council elections. The suspects are being charged for tampering ballot applications for the campaign of Yu-Ching James Pai, who was a Republican candidate in the June 2023 Primary for New York CIty Council District 20.
The defendants of the case are Sydnee Pai (19), who is the daughter of Yu-Ching James Pai; Li Zhen Wan (46); Yee Ping Yam (53); Lisbeth Cheng (24); and Crystal You (20). Each defendant was arraigned before Supreme Court Justice Leigh K. Cheng, with an order to return to court on September 19. A later date is anticipated for the arraignment of a sixth defendant.
Defendants Pai and Cheng face two counts each of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree; falsifying business records in the first degree; illegal voting; offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree; criminal possession of a forged instrument in the third degree; falsifying business records in the second degree; and offering a false instrument for filing in the second degree.
Defendants Wan, Yam and You are charged with four counts each of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree; falsifying business records in the first degree; illegal voting; offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree; criminal possession of a forged instrument in the third degree; falsifying business records in the second degree; and offering a false instrument for filing in the second degree.
The defendants each face up to a seven year sentence if convicted.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz released a statement on the issue.
“Our democracy relies on integrity at the voting booth, and we will not allow that to be compromised in Queens County,” Katz said. “As alleged in this case, the defendants went to the Board of Elections and filed fraudulent absentee ballot applications on behalf of 23 voters they had never met.”
According to the charges, the defendants volunteered for Pai’s City Council Campaign between approximately March 1, and June 27, 2023. The defendants went to the Forest Hills office of the New York City Board of Elections during that period in order to retrieve ballots for voters who allegedly wished to cast absentee ballots in the primary election scheduled for June 2023. When a voter complained that they had been informed they had already cast their ballot when they arrived at their assigned polling station, the Queens District Attorney’s office launched an investigation. After speaking with a number of people whose names and personal details were on the ballot applications, Queens DA investigators learned that the voters had not filled out or signed the application, had never met the defendant designated authorized to pick it up, and had never gotten an absentee ballot. In total, 23 Queens County voters were affected.
Yu-Ching James Pai is currently not believed to be involved in the scheme.
