A significant legal development unfolded in Queens as Queens resident Abdul Rahman faced a formal 140-count indictment, accused of orchestrating an intricate voter fraud scheme during the 2022 Democratic primary election. The announcement came from Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz in a Tuesday press release.
As per the charges outlined in the press release, Rahman, 32, allegedly submitted 20 fraudulent absentee ballot applications during the August 2022 Democratic primary. The accusations span various offenses, including falsifying business records, criminal possession of forged instruments, offering false instruments for filing, and illegal voting, among others.
District Attorney Katz emphasized the importance of preserving election integrity in a resolute statement.
“Every vote has to count,” declared Ms. Katz in a statement, emphasizing the importance of election integrity as “the foundation of a viable, working democracy. “We will vigorously prosecute anyone who threatens in any way to undermine that integrity. To investigate and prosecute anyone for voter fraud takes time and resources I am willing to commit.”
Following legal proceedings, New York Supreme Court Justice Toni Cimino has instructed Rahman to appear in court on January 30, 2024, to address the multitude of charges outlined in the indictment.
The case came to light when Jordan Sandke attempted to vote in person during the Democratic primary, only to find that an absentee ballot had been requested in their name, hindering their ability to cast a vote. The subsequent investigation uncovered allegations that Rahman had submitted an application on Sandke’s behalf without his knowledge or authorization.
Upon closer examination, it was revealed that Rahman allegedly orchestrated a sophisticated operation, submitting 118 absentee ballot applications and designating himself as the authorized representative for ballot collection. Despite 32 of these applications being approved, investigations found no evidence of the listed individuals authorizing Rahman to collect their ballots.
Following the indictment, Rahman surrendered to the Queens District Attorney’s Office. Vincent Ignizio, Deputy Executive Director of the Board of Elections, expressed appreciation for the diligent investigation by the District Attorney’s Office, underscoring the responsibility of all Americans in safeguarding the democratic process.
Assistant District Attorney Gabriella Giunta, from the Public Corruption Bureau, leads the prosecution, supported by Assistant District Attorney Khadijah Muhammad-Starling and Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations Gerard Brave.
If found guilty, Rahman could potentially face a maximum sentence of up to seven years in prison.
