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Paterson Voter Faces Multiple Charges for Mail-in Ballot Fraud and Misleading Investigators
Ninoska Adames charged with tampering with public records and fraud, casting a shadow on the May 2020 municipal election in Paterson’s 3rd Ward
Morristown, NJ - In a case that exposes vulnerabilities in the electoral system, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced criminal charges against Paterson resident Ninoska Adames, 33, for her alleged involvement in vote-by-mail fraud and attempts to mislead investigators during the May 2020 Paterson City municipal election.
Adames faces multiple charges including tampering with public records, fraud in casting a mail-in vote, and attempting to hinder apprehension or prosecution. The charges stem from an investigation by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability’s (OPIA) Corruption Bureau into suspected illegal activities involving Paterson City Council President Alex Mendez.
The Charges
According to the Attorney General, Adames fraudulently filled out a relative's mail-in ballot certificate with a false address. This action had the effect of presenting the relative as a legitimate voter in the 3rd Ward of Paterson, where Mendez was running for office. It's also alleged that Adames provided misleading statements to a detective about how her own mail-in ballot, and a family member's ballot, had been mailed.
"The defendant in this case generated a misleading paper trail with the intent of effectively adding a voter to the 3rd Ward. And that voter’s ballot, along with others, were picked up for delivery by the eventual winner of the election in that section of Paterson," said Attorney General Platkin.
The Investigation
The case is part of a broader investigation concerning Council President Alex Mendez, who is accused of depositing nearly 400 mail-in ballots, including those related to Adames and her family, into a Haledon mailbox. State law prohibits candidates from serving as ballot bearers in the districts where they are running.
“We take the integrity of elections seriously,” emphasized Thomas Eicher, Executive Director of the OPIA. “Candidates need to win elections on their own merits, and on the strength of their platforms and political campaigns – not based on deceit and fraud.”
Legal Implications
Adames was officially charged by complaint-summons on Wednesday, October 25, 2023. If convicted, third-degree charges carry a sentence of three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000. Fourth-degree offenses could result in up to 18 months in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
These charges are merely accusations, and Adames is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Eric Cohen under the supervision of the OPIA Corruption Bureau.
With the credibility of the electoral system at stake, the case against Adames serves as a wake-up call to local and state authorities on the need to fortify measures against electoral fraud.
