DA Sini: Four Charged in Connection with Petition Fraud During the 2018 Election
Central Islip, NY - December 5, 2018 - Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy D. Sini today announced the filing of charges against four individuals, including two employees of the Suffolk County Board of Elections and two political party officials, in connection with the alleged forgery of more than 50 signatures on nominating petitions for the 2018 election.
“Through their alleged actions, the defendants corrupted the democratic process and violated the public’s trust,” District Attorney Sini said. “This brazen scheme to get preferred candidates on the November 2018 ballot by any means necessary included the alleged filing of petitions with forged signatures, some of which included forged signatures of deceased individuals. In addition, one of the defendants is alleged to have used his position as a member of the Suffolk County Board of Elections to deceive voters into signing petitions they might otherwise have declined to sign. This kind of conduct is unacceptable; if you abuse your position of public trust and attempt to disrupt the integrity of the election process, you will be brought to justice.”
Amos Goodman, 35, of East Hampton, former Chairman of the East Hampton Town Republican Party, is charged with ten counts of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a D felony, and ten counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, an E felony. Goodman is alleged to have submitted nominating petitions that contained at least 43 forgeries. The petitions were for Green Party judicial candidates, an Independence Party candidate for East Hampton Town Council and a Republican Party candidate for East Hampton Town Council. In one instance, Goodman submitted a nominating petition containing the signature of a person who is deceased.
William Mann, 60, of Cutchogue, a Board of Elections employee, is charged with Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a D felony; Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, an E felony; and two counts of Official Misconduct, an A misdemeanor. Mann is alleged to have submitted nominating petitions for Green Party judicial candidates containing three forged signatures, including one signature of a resident who is deceased.
Gregory Dickerson, 55, of Mattituck, a Board of Elections employee, is charged with two counts of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a D felony, and two counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, an E felony. Dickerson is alleged to have submitted two nominating petition forms for Green Party judicial candidates containing two forged signatures.
Patricia Mansir, 72, of East Hampton, Vice Chairperson of the East Hampton Town Independence Party and former East Hampton Town Councilwoman, is charged with four counts of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a D felony, and four counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, an E felony. Mansir is alleged to have submitted nominating petitions for an Independence Party candidate for East Hampton Town Council containing eight forged signatures, including one signature of a resident who is deceased.
After receiving complaints from representatives of the Suffolk County Green Party, the East Hampton Town Republican Party and the East Hampton Town Independence Party, the District Attorney’s Office’s Public Integrity Bureau launched a comprehensive investigation into the allegations.
The investigation revealed evidence of alleged schemes in which the defendants knowingly possessed and submitted nominating petitions containing forged signatures.
Mann is charged with Official Misconduct for allegedly falsely representing to voters that he was working in his official capacity as an employee of the Board of Elections to collect signatures on behalf of the Green Party.
The investigation did not reveal evidence that any of the candidates were aware of or involved in the alleged schemes.
Mann, Dickerson and Mansir were arraigned today and were released on their own recognizance. Goodman is expected to be arraigned on Dec. 5.
If convicted of the top count, each defendant faces a maximum sentence of two and one-third to seven years in prison.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Kevin Ward, of the Public Integrity Bureau.
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.