Former Atlantic City Council president receives 2-year sentence for mail-in ballot fraud scheme.

Former Atlantic City Council President Craig Callaway has been sentenced to two years in federal prison following his guilty plea regarding the fraudulent acquisition and submission of mail-in ballots during the 2022 election cycle. Callaway, a prominent political operative with a history of involvement in election campaigns across Atlantic County, was found guilty of orchestrating a scheme that saw unsuspecting voters’ ballots manipulated and submitted on their behalf without their consent.

Throughout his career, Callaway was recognized for his extensive and often controversial vote-by-mail operations, which had been instrumental in securing victories for various candidates in local races. Until his recent legal issues came to light, Callaway consistently defended his practices as compliant with New Jersey’s election regulations, asserting that his methods were legitimate.

Callaway had a notable political background, having provided his services to candidates across the political spectrum, including U.S. Representative Jeff Van Drew, who reportedly compensated Callaway ,000 in 2022. Van Drew has publicly denied any knowledge of illicit activities linked to Callaway.

The troubling aspects of Callaway’s career are underscored by previous convictions related to bribery and a sex-and-blackmail scheme against a political adversary. His notoriety in local political circles has been further highlighted by past incidents, including following then-Mayor Jim Whelan with a bullhorn during public events in the 1990s.

On the day of the sentencing, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba reinforced the commitment of her office to uphold the integrity of the electoral process in New Jersey. Judge Renée Marie Bumb of the U.S. District Court in Camden oversaw the proceedings, declaring that the sentence serves as a clear warning to individuals attempting to undermine the state’s election system.

In statements following the conclusion of the case, Habba emphasized the significance of voting rights as a cornerstone of democracy and reiterated that any form of voter fraud will face stringent repercussions. The FBI also weighed in, with Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy commenting on the severity of Callaway’s actions and the importance of combating electoral malfeasance.

Evidence presented during the court proceedings indicated that Callaway recruited individuals in Atlantic City with promises of financial compensation ranging from to to act as messengers for voters seeking to cast mail-in ballots. However, rather than delivering the ballots to voters as mandated by law, the messengers funneled the ballots directly to Callaway, who then exploited them for unauthorized voting.

As a result of these actions, many ballots were ultimately cast in the names of registered voters who confirmed they had not participated in the election, raising serious concerns about the validity of the electoral process. In addition to his prison sentence, Callaway has received a three-year term of supervised release.

In light of this case, Atlantic County Democratic Chairman Michael Suleiman has called on the state legislature to pass legislation making the practice of compensating ballot messengers illegal, highlighting the need for reforms to prevent similar incidents in the future. Suleiman expressed hope that this conviction would mark a pivotal moment in restoring faith in the electoral process within New Jersey.