Hammond, Indiana Man Sentenced For East Chicago Primary Vote Fraud

By admin - Posted on April 26th, 2007

April 24, 2007 -- CROWN POINT - Lake County Indiana Prosecutor Bernard A. Carter and Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter announced Tuesday that a Hammond man was sentenced to one year probation and 30 hours community service for vote fraud.

Mario Delvalle, 32, pled guilty March 14 to Voting in Other Precinct, a Class D Felony. He was sentenced by Lake Superior Court Judge Thomas P. Stefaniak Jr. Stefaniak said Devalle is also barred from employment or contract with any government entity for 20 years.

Devalle lived in Hammond when he voted in the May 2003 East Chicago primary election. Trial Supervisor Angela Brown said that

Devalle worked in the city of East Chicago Engineering Department. She called Devalle's actions a "breach of the public trust" and "theft of an election." Brown said that vote fraud has major consequences. Brown said these convictions are necessary to restore the integrity of the election process and to restore the public's confidence in that system.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Stefaniak called Devalle's actions "a breach of the public trust."

On Friday, Alan "Twig" Simmons, 39, will be sentenced for three counts of Fraudulent Application, Showing, Examination, Receipt or Delivery, all Class D Felonies. Simmons faces a maximum term of nine years in prison when he is sentenced by Judge Murray.

Between April 21 and April 25, 2003, Simmons knowingly examined primary ballots prepared by three voters in the East Chicago Indiana municipal primary election.

There have been 22 convictions to date arising from this joint investigation which is being conducted by Prosecutor Carter's Office, Attorney Steve Carter's Office and the Indiana State Police.

Prosecutor Carter said 53 individuals have been charged in connection with vote fraud in the 2003 East Chicago primary with a combined total of more than 200 felony charges.

Prosecutor Carter commended Trial Supervisor Angela Brown, the investigators and Deputy Prosecutor Andrew Thomas, of Attorney General Carter's Office and the Indiana State Police, for their successful prosecution and investigation of these cases.

Source: Indiana Attorney General

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