AND THE DEMOCRATS STILL KEEP CRASHING THE BURNING
THE BRONX — Three former campaign workers for Bronx Councilwoman Maria Del Carmen Arroyo's reelection bid were charged with forging nearly 100 signatures, including Derek Jeter's and Kate Moss', on the candidate's primary ballot petitions, according to the Bronx District Attorney's Office.
Elbin Lopez, 49, Betty Julien, 47, and Luis Vargas, 45, were charged multiple felony counts Wednesday including falsifying business records and forgery. The women were hired to gather signatures to get Arroyo's name placed on the September 2013 Democratic primary election.
Other forged names included sports announcer Joe Buck and New York Giants defensive tackle Rocky Bernard, the DA's Office said.
The petitions also included some fake addresses, including a Citibank branch and a drug rehabilitation program, prosecutors said.
The nine-month investigation into the fraud uncovered no other criminal conduct by any campaign staff, according to the DA's office.
The women were arraigned in Bronx Criminal Court and released without bail.
They face up to seven years in prison.
Arroyo was first elected in 2005 and serves District 17, which includes Melrose, Hunts Point and Longwood.
"From the very onset, I believed the actions of the individuals involved were unacceptable and that they had violated the law," said Arroyo in a statement. "I look forward to seeing this case through its conclusion."
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