MNS – The prosecution of five cases of alleged vote fraud in Wisconsin brought forth by a joint state, city and county task force, will continue.
Herbert Gunka, Suzanne Gunka, Maria Miles, Kevin Clancy, and Michael Henderson are each charged with election fraud arising out of the November 4, 2008 Presidential Election. They made their initial appearances before Milwaukee County Court Commissioner Grace Flynn Tuesday.
The charges were brought forth by the Election Fraud Task Force, a collaborative effort between the Wisconsin Department of Justice, the Milwaukee District Attorney’s Office and the Milwaukee Police Department.
“Elections fraud is unfortunate and very real,” said Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen. “Through our partnerships and the task force we seek to hold those accountable who degrade and diminish the lawful votes of others. Elections fraud undermines our democracy.”
According to a release issued by the Wisconsin Department of Justice:
Miles and Clancy served as Special Registration Deputies (“SRD”) for the City of Milwaukee in advance of the 2008 Presidential Election. Each worked for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (“ACORN”). Miles and Clancy are each charged with the felony offense of Falsely Procuring Voter Registration as Party to a Crime. The complaint alleges that Miles and Clancy submitted multiple voter registration applications for the same individuals, and also were part of a scheme in which they and other SRDs registered each other to vote multiple times in order to meet voter registration quotas imposed by ACORN.Henderson is charged with one count of Voting by a Disqualified Person and one count of Providing False Information to Election Officials, both felonies. His complaint alleges that Henderson registered to vote at the polls on November 4, 2008, thereby certifying that he was a qualified elector. It also alleges that he then cast a ballot. At that time, Henderson was on an active period of probation for felony convictions from Rock County. A felon on an active period of supervision for a felony offense is prohibited by state law from voting in any election.
Herbert and Suzanne Gunka are each charged with the felony offense of Double Voting. Their complaint alleges that they each voted in the November 2008 election by casting absentee ballots before the election. The complaint also alleges that after casting absentee ballots, they each voted in person at their polling place on election day.
Commissioner Flynn found that each of the complaints supported probable cause and the defendants were ordered to appear for preliminary hearings on May 6, 2010, at 8:30 a.m.
Each individual charge against the defendants carries a potential penalty of up to 3 1/2 years imprisonment and as much as $10,000 in fines.