Thread: Sunland Park N.M. ex-employees indicted for voter fraud

Sunland Park ex-employees indicted for voter fraud

Posted: 06/24/2012 03:00:11 PM MDT

SUNLAND PARK, N.M. (AP) - Two former employees of a troubled New Mexico border city have been indicted on charges of conspiracy and false voting.

Silvia Gomez, Sunland Park's former senior center director, and Jesus Dario Hernandez, the former public works director who is still on the run, were indicted last week by a Dona Ana County grand jury.

The indictments were just the latest in the troubled city that has already seen officials indicted for voter fraud related to the city's March 6 mayoral election that also saw a mayoral candidate indicted on extortion and other charges.

The charges against Gomez relate to her alleged role in registering four residents to vote. Hernandez was also charged with voter fraud.

It was unclear if both had attorneys.

Sunland Park ex-employees indicted for voter fraud - El Paso Times

Sunland Park librarian arrested for alleged voter fraud

By Brian Fraga / bfraga@lcsun-news.comlcsun-news.com
Posted: 07/25/2012 07:13:01 PM MDT

LAS CRUCES — Authorities charged two more people Wednesday in connection to alleged voter fraud in Sunland Park, including the city librarian.

Luz E. Vargas, 56, and Mary Ann O'Brien, 55, are both facing charges that include false voting, conspiracy to commit false voting, registration offenses, falsifying election documents and false swearing.

Vargas, director of the Sunland Park Community Library, was arrested Wednesday. She allegedly registered O'Brien, an El Paso resident, to vote in Sunland Park's municipal elections in March, according to court documents.

Vargas also allegedly told O'Brien to vote for mayoral candidate Daniel Salinas, who is currently in custody on various felony charges that include extortion, receiving illegal kickbacks, fraud and bribery.

On Monday, investigators from the 3rd Judicial District Attorney's Office interviewed O'Brien, who told them that Vargas, a third-party voter registration agent in Sunland Park, approached her while O'Brien was visiting a friend in Sunland Park.

O'Brien said Vargas told her it was OK for her to register and vote in New Mexico as long as she did not also vote in El Paso. O'Brien said Vargas had registration forms with her name and personal information already filled out.
At least seven other people are currently facing voter fraud charges related to the Sunland Park elections, including former city councilor Angelica Marquez, former senior center director Silvia Gomez and Jesus Dario

Hernandez, the former public works director. Brian Fraga can be reached at (575) 541-5462; Follow him on Twitter @bfraga

Sunland Park librarian arrested for alleged voter fraud - Las Cruces Sun-News