Craig Callaway, a former Atlantic City councilman with a history of legal troubles, is facing new charges related to election fraud. Known for his political organizing and ability to influence election outcomes through absentee ballots, Callaway was arrested and charged with election fraud in connection with the misuse of absentee ballots.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has accused Callaway of “depriving, defrauding, and attempting to deprive and defraud the residents of the state of New Jersey of a fair and impartially conducted election process by the fraudulent procurement, casting, and tabulation of ballots.” U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger emphasized the importance of free and fair elections, stating that these charges reflect their commitment to holding individuals accountable for undermining the electoral process.
According to prosecutors, Callaway and individuals acting under his direction allegedly paid people between $30 and $50 to apply as messengers for voters who wished to vote by mail. These messengers would visit the county clerk’s office, sign the messenger portion of the ballot applications, and receive ballots intended for the listed voters. However, instead of delivering these mail-in ballots to voters, they handed them over to Callaway or his associates. Many of these ballots were later cast in the names of individuals who confirmed that they did not vote in the 2022 general election, either in person or by mail. These voters also denied authorizing Callaway, his associates, or anyone else to cast ballots on their behalf.
This is not Callaway’s first encounter with the law. He previously served a 40-month state prison sentence for bribery during his tenure as a city councilman. During that time, he was involved in a sex sting operation against a political rival, fellow Councilman Eugene Robinson. Callaway orchestrated the operation in 2006, which involved recording a sexual encounter between Robinson and a prostitute. Callaway then threatened to release the tape to the media unless Robinson resigned. Robinson reported the incident to the authorities, leading to Callaway’s imprisonment.
Despite his history, Callaway was released in 2010 and resumed his involvement in collecting and delivering absentee ballots. While allegations of wrongdoing had surrounded his activities in previous campaigns, formal charges were only filed against him on Thursday. The election fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Callaway’s attorney, Megan Davies, had not issued an immediate comment at the time of the report.
