Abdul Rahman, a 32-year-old resident of Queens, has become embroiled in a legal battle, charged with orchestrating an extensive voter fraud scheme during the Democratic primary in 2022. Rahman, an active participant in Democratic and South Asian circles, now confronts 140 charges, accused of submitting 20 falsified absentee ballot applications.
Queens County District Attorney Melinda Katz underscored the gravity of the situation, stating, “Every vote has to count. Election integrity is the foundation of a viable, working democracy. We will vigorously prosecute anyone who threatens in any way to undermine that integrity.”
If convicted, Rahman could face up to seven years in prison. The charges against him include 20 counts each of falsifying business records, criminal possession of a forged instrument, illegal voting, and offering a false instrument for filing.
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According to the district attorney’s press release, Rahman stands accused of casting 20 fraudulent ballots in August 2022. Investigators allege that he applied to collect 118 ballots for voters in the area, securing approval for 32 of those applications.
The press release did not disclose which candidates benefited from the allegedly fraudulent ballots. One victim, Jordan Sandke, reported an incident on August 23, 2022, when he discovered he couldn’t vote at his polling station as he had requested an absentee ballot. Investigations revealed Rahman as the authorized individual to pick up Sandke’s ballot, contrary to Sandke’s denial of authorization.
Subsequent interviews with voters exposed that none of them had submitted the ballot applications associated with Rahman, raising concerns about the scope of the alleged scheme.
The Board of Elections in the City of New York played a pivotal role in identifying and reporting the election integrity issue to law enforcement. Board of Elections Deputy Executive Director Vincent Ignizio praised the efforts of the Queens District Attorney’s Office, emphasizing, “Protecting our democracy and the elections process is the responsibility of all Americans.”
Abdul Rahman has entered a plea of not guilty and is scheduled to return to court on January 30, 2024. Queens DA Melinda Katz expressed gratitude for the work of the Public Corruption Bureau and the Board of Elections, asserting, “The integrity of elections will be upheld in this borough.”
As legal proceedings unfold, this case serves as a poignant reminder of the imperative to safeguard the electoral process against any attempts to compromise its integrity.
