Perth Amboy campaign workers indicted for allegedly offering gift cards for votes
NEW BRUNSWICK – Three Perth Amboy campaign workers have been indicted after allegedly offering gift cards to voters in exchange for completed mail-in ballots for their candidate, during last year's hotly contested City Council election.
A Middlesex County grand jury on Wednesday returned a seven-count indictment charging Ana Camilo, 62, Annet Sanchez, 52, and Maria Peralta, 60, all of Perth Amboy, with bribery, witness tampering and election law violations.
Camilo allegedly was working for City Council candidate Jeanette Rios, who was running with Councilman Joel Pabon and candidate Junior Iglesia, on the Vote for a Better Tomorrow slate. The slate was supported by attorney Joseph B. Vas, the son of former longtime Perth Amboy mayor Joe Vas. Attorney Vas did not respond last fall to a request for comment.
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Last year's City Council race had nine candidates, including three incumbents running on separate slates for three seats. The election ultimately went to a December runoff in which Councilwoman Milady Tejeda, then Board of Education President Kenneth Puccio and candidate Hailey Cruz pre prevailed.
Camillo was indicted on two counts of bribery, unlawful possession of a ballot, attempt to cast an illegal ballot, and election law violation, all third-degree crimes, for her role in allegedly meeting and attempting to bribe an undercover detective with a gift card, who was posing as a Perth Amboy voter.
Sanchez and Peralta each were indicted on one count of retaliation against a witness, also a third-degree crime, for their roles in allegedly engaging in harassing conduct toward a witness who provided information concerning Camilo’s involvement in the alleged voter fraud.
New Jersey election law prohibits the offering of any inducements for voting for a particular candidate.
Email: srussell@gannettnj.com
Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Perth Amboy NJ campaign workers allegedly offered gift cards for votes
