Former Massachusetts State Representative Sentenced

BOSTON - A former Massachusetts State Representative was sentenced today in federal court for civil rights violations after his role in submitting fraudulent absentee ballot applications and casting invalid ballots in multiple elections in 2009 and 2010.

Stephen Smith, 57, of Everett, was sentenced by Magistrate Judge Leo T. Sorokin to four months in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release and a $20,000 fine. Smith was ordered to report to prison on May 21, 2013. On Dec. 20, 2012, Smith pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of deprivation of rights under color of law. Pursuant to the plea agreement, Smith was called to resign his position in the Massachusetts House of Representatives effective Jan. 1, 2013, and is not allowed to seek elected office for five years.

Smith, as the Representative of the 28th Middlesex District, cast invalid absentee ballots in support of his races for public office for voters who were ineligible or otherwise unaware of ballots being cast in their names. Smith submitted fraudulent Massachusetts Official Absentee Applications, which resulted in the issuance of absentee ballots. He obtained many of the absentee ballots and cause them to be delivered to the ineligible voters, who would then cast votes despite lacking any eligibility to do so, or Smith would cast the ballots himself.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Boston Field Division made the announcement today. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugenia M. Carris of Ortiz’s Public Corruption and Special Prosecutions Unit.