On Thursday morning, authorities reported that five out of six defendants had turned themselves in to face charges in an election fraud case related to the 2020 New York City Council primary in Flushing, Queens.
Six individuals are facing charges related to absentee ballot fraud. These individuals were volunteers for Yu-Ching James Pai’s campaign during the June 2023 Primary for City County District 20.
District Attorney Melinda Katz stated that in this case, the defendants were accused of filing fraudulent absentee ballot applications for 23 voters whom they had no prior acquaintance with at the Board of Elections.
On Thursday, individuals were brought to court to face charges that included criminal possession of a forged instrument, falsifying business records, and illegal voting.
- Sydnee Pai, 19
- Li Zhen Wan, 46
- Yee Ping Yam, 53
- Lisbeth Cheng, 24
- Crystal You, 20
The former candidate’s 19-year-old daughter and former campaign treasurer are among those accused.
A sixth defendant is now out of state and will surrender at a later date.
The arrests are the culmination of a long-running probe that began after rival Republican Dany Chen accused Pai of voter fraud on his way to winning the district’s primary, and 23 complainants told prosecutors they were disenfranchised.
Prosecutors claim they submitted 23 absentee ballots for Pai without the voters’ authorization. After learning at a polling station that they had already cast their votes, voters complained.
There are no charges against Pai in this case.
“Typically, absentee ballots account for 10% or even 20% of all votes cast. However, Dany Chen’s attorney, Aaron Foldenauer, noted that a significant number of absentee ballots in this case heavily favored James Pai.
Sandra Ung, a Democrat, ultimately retained her seat in the general election.
The primary victory margin was only 181 votes.
“One of the most fundamental rights of American citizens is the right to vote, and any effort to harm the integrity of our elections is contrary to our nation’s democratic values,” Ung told the media. “I extend my gratitude to District Attorney Melinda Katz for her unwavering commitment to safeguarding the integrity of our elections, and I urge all voters who suspect a compromised vote to seek assistance from the Board of Elections.”
The five suspects pleaded not guilty Thursday and were released on their own recognizance.
If convicted on the most serious accusations, the defendants may face up to seven years in prison.
September 19 is the next court date.
