By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – A jury in East St. Louis has found five Democratic Party operatives guilty of conspiracy to commit vote fraud.
In addition to the conspiracy counts, the jury also found everyone but party chair Charles Powell Jr. guilty of paying at least one person to vote in the November election.
The defendants gave voters cash, cigarettes, and liquor in exchange for votes.
Federal prosecutor Ron Tenpas says a cooperating witness made with a hidden recorder were vital to the case.
"The tapes were a considerable portion of the evidence, but certainly not the sole evidence. At the end of the day, every case rests on all of the evidence introduced," Tenpas said.
Defense attorney John O'Gara says he is considering asking for a new trial. The judge has not yet set a sentencing date.
To hear a report on the verdict from KWMU's Matt Sepic, as aired on NPR, click here ---> 