2 former Democrat public officials who pleaded guilty to vote-buying conspiracy sentenced to prison

Two former Democratic public officials in Amite City, Louisiana, were sentenced on Tuesday to one year in prison for violating federal election laws after an investigation uncovered their involvement in a vote-buying scheme, the Department of Justice reported.

An investigation conducted by the FBI New Orleans Field Office found that former police chief Jerry Trabona, 73, and councilmember Kristian Hart, 50, who were both candidates in the 2016 primary and general elections, conspired with each other to pay individuals residing in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, to vote for them.

In July, Trabona and Hart pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit vote buying. Hart also pleaded guilty to three counts of paying and offering to pay voters.

At the time of the guilty pleas, Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division stated, “The Department of Justice is committed to ensuring that illegal voting, including vote buying, has no place in our nation’s electoral system.”

FBI New Orleans Field Office Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Williams Jr. said, “Today’s guilty plea sends a clear message that individuals like former Amite Chief of Police Jerry Trabona and current Amite City Councilmember Kris Hart, who engaged in voter fraud, will be held accountable.”... (Read more)

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