Michael 'Ozzie' Myers, Election Fraud, Pennsylvania 2023

Philadelphia Journal

PHILADELPHIA - In a shocking turn of events, former US Congressman Michael 'Ozzie' Myers, 79, of Philadelphia, PA, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to deprive voters of civil rights, bribery, obstruction of justice, falsification of voting records, and conspiring to illegally vote in a federal election.

According to the Philadelphia District Attorney's office, Myers orchestrated schemes to fraudulently stuff the ballot boxes for specific Democratic candidates in the 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 Pennsylvania elections.

Myers admitted in court to bribing the Judge of Elections for the 39th Ward, 36th Division in South Philadelphia, Domenick J. Demuro, in a fraudulent scheme over several years. Demuro, who was charged separately and pleaded guilty in May 2020, was responsible for overseeing the entire election process and all voter activities of his Division in accord with federal and state election laws.

The voting machines at each polling station, including in the 39th Ward, 36th Division, generate records in the form of a printed receipt documenting the use of each voting machine. This printed receipt, also known as the 'results receipt,' shows the vote totals, and the Judge of Elections and other Election Board Officials at each polling place attest to the accuracy of machine results.

Myers admitted to bribing Demuro to illegally add votes for certain candidates of their mutual political party in primary elections. Some of these candidates were individuals running for judicial office whose campaigns had hired Myers, and others were candidates for various federal, state, and local elective offices that Myers favored for a variety of reasons.

After receiving payments ranging from between $300 to $5,000 per election from Myers, Demuro would add fraudulent votes on the voting machine – also known as 'ringing up' votes – for Myers' clients and preferred candidates, thereby diluting the value of ballots cast by actual voters.

Myers' scheme was uncovered during a separate investigation into the 39th Ward, 2nd Division in South Philadelphia. Myers also admitted to conspiring to commit election fraud with a former Judge of Elections for the 39th Ward, 2nd Division in South Philadelphia, Marie Beren.

The defendant, whose real full name is Michael 'Ozzie' Myers, faces sentencing for his crimes. The exact sentence or outcome is not yet known.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa/pr/former-us-congressman-and-philadelphia-political-operative-pleads-guilty-election-fraud