June 29, 09

NEWS / Kentucky Men Indicted in Election Fraud Scheme

LONDON, KY—Chester Jones, age 65, of Hazard, Ky. and Sherman Neace, age 68, of Bonnyman, Ky. were indicted today on mail fraud charges and conspiracy to buy votes relating to the 2008 General Election in Perry County.

The Indictment alleges that Jones and Neace defrauded the Perry County Democratic Executive Committee by disguising their diversion of Get Out The Vote funds from the Kentucky Democratic Party to their own campaigns.

James A. Zerhusen, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Timothy D. Cox, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Rodney Brewer, Commissioner, Kentucky State Police and Jack Conway, Attorney General of Kentucky, Office of the Attorney General, jointly made the announcement today after a federal grand jury in London, Ky. returned the Indictment.

The investigation preceding the Indictment was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation task force, Kentucky State Police, and the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office. The Indictment was presented to the grand jury by Assistant United States Attorney Kenneth R. Taylor.

Jones and Neace’s appearances before the United States District Court have not yet been set by the Court in London, Ky. If convicted, both defendants face a maximum prison sentence of 20 years. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the United States sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of sentences.

An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant should be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.