Local State Rep Sentenced for Voter Fraud

– Allison Goldsberry

Former State Representative Stephen “Stat” Smith was sentenced Wednesday after pleading guilty to voter fraud.

Smith was sentenced in federal court for civil rights violations for his role in submitting fraudulent absentee ballot applications and casting invalid ballots in multiple elections in 2009 and 2010, according to information released by the FBI.

Smith, 57, of Everett, was sentenced 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 December 20, 2012, Smith pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of deprivation of rights under color of law. As part of the plea agreement, Smith had to resign his state rep seat in January and is not allowed to seek elected office for five years.

Smith, first elected to the State House in 2007 and whose district included Everett and Malden, 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, according to the FBI. Smith submitted fraudulent absentee ballot applications, and he would either have ineligible voters receive them and submit them or he would cast the ballots himself.

Before being elected to the State House Smith also served on the Everett School Committee and Everett Board of Alderman and Common Council.