NJ Political Organizer Pleads Guilty to Mail-In Ballot Fraud in 2022 General Election

Former Council President admits orchestrating a scheme to pay individuals and cast fraudulent votes.

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ – A longtime political organizer and one-time City Council President of Atlantic City has pleaded guilty to orchestrating a widespread scheme that produced and cast fraudulent mail-in ballots for the November 8, 2022, general election. Craig Callaway, age 64, formerly a high-profile political figure in Atlantic County, admitted in federal court to depriving voters of a “fair and impartially conducted election process,” Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced.

Callaway appeared before Chief U.S. District Judge Renée Marie Bumb in Camden federal court, pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to “deprive, defraud, and attempt to deprive and defraud” New Jersey residents of an honest election. Authorities say that Callaway’s operation included paying individuals to act as so-called “authorized messengers,” who then obtained mail-in ballots illegally and cast or delivered them under false pretenses.

The Alleged Scheme

According to court documents and statements made in court, Callaway and collaborators began conspiring around October 2022, just one month prior to Election Day. The operation functioned as follows:

Recruiting “Authorized Messengers”:

Callaway or his subordinates approached individuals in Atlantic City, offering them $30 to $50 if they agreed to pose as authorized messengers for prospective mail-in voters.

Procuring Mail-In Ballots:

The newly recruited “messengers” took Vote-By-Mail Applications—some prepared by Callaway’s team—to the Atlantic County Clerk’s Office.

They would present proof of identification, sign the application in the “authorized messenger” section, and receive up to four mail-in ballots if approved by the Clerk’s Office.

Diverging from Lawful Steps:

Under New Jersey law, an authorized messenger must deliver the mail-in ballots directly to the voter who requested them and sign a certification affirming that they did so.

Instead, these individuals immediately handed over the mail-in ballots to Callaway or his subordinates. The voters named on these ballots often had no knowledge that a vote was being cast in their name.

Casting Fraudulent Votes:

Many voters later confirmed that they did not cast a mail-in ballot nor authorize Callaway or anyone else to do so on their behalf.

Despite this, these ballots were ultimately counted in the 2022 General Election. Some individuals whose names were used had not even intended to vote, either in-person or by mail.

Vast Consequences of the Scheme

Callaway’s misconduct corrupted the integrity of the general election, with multiple ballots attributed to individuals who never actually participated in the voting process. As Acting U.S. Attorney Khanna explained, the entire operation undermined trust in the democratic system and violated election laws intended to protect the rights of legitimate voters.

Past Political Prominence

Craig Callaway is a well-known figure in Atlantic City, having once served as City Council President and established a significant role as a political power broker. Over the years, his name has appeared in various local campaigns, where he reportedly advised candidates on strategies to secure votes. This guilty plea marks a significant turn for a figure who had once shaped politics from within.

Next Steps

Sentencing Date: Judge Bumb set June 17, 2025, for Callaway’s sentencing hearing.

Potential Penalties: While specific sentencing guidelines will apply, election fraud carries substantial penalties, potentially including prison time and significant fines.

Continued Investigations: Federal authorities and local officials have not ruled out further charges or details emerging about additional participants in the scheme.

Acting U.S. Attorney Khanna praised the meticulous work of investigators who untangled this complex web of false applications and fraudulent votes. He emphasized that safeguarding the election process is vital to sustaining public confidence. Anyone suspecting election irregularities is encouraged to report potential abuses to law enforcement.

“The defendant admitted to depriving New Jersey residents of a fair election by participating in a scheme to cast ballots for voters who did not vote in the election. Along with our law enforcement partners, we are committed to prosecuting those who criminally seek to undermine impartially conducted elections,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna.

By admitting to an elaborate plan that exploited mail-in voting, Craig Callaway’s guilty plea stands as a stark reminder that election fraud—especially schemes targeting vulnerable voting processes—remains a priority for federal prosecutors.