Don't you just hate it when Republicans quietly get convicted of felony voter fraud and nobody even notices? Meet Enrico "Jack" Villamaino. In this specific instance, we have another fine example of a Republican changing the voter registrations of nearly 300 voters to Republican and then ordering absentee ballots in their names so he could vote for himself in the Republican primary.
Of course, I didn't expect this to make it onto FOX News or Drudge; however, I did expect it to get picked up on the mainstream news or at least Salon or MSNBC. Instead, there is nothing but crickets. Read the details of the convicted Republican felon below the orange spaghetti-O.
Methinks the Republican party doth protest too much.
From WWLP news:
Villamaino will serve 4 months in prison
Jack Villamaino was sentenced to 1 year in jail
Updated: Wednesday, 07 Aug 2013, 6:26 PM EDT
Published : Wednesday, 07 Aug 2013, 5:39 PM EDT
Laura Hutchinson, 22News Investigative Reporter
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Enrico "Jack" Villamaino learned his fate Wednesday morning after pleading guilty to voter fraud on Monday. He will spend at least the next 4 months in jail.
Former East Longmeadow Selectman Jack Villamaino showed no emotion as he was sentenced to four months in jail. It could be even longer if he violates his probation once he's released.
His record will also indicate he has a felony conviction, something his lawyer tried hard to stop after District Attorney Mark Mastroianni pushed for it.
"This affected a lot of people, it affected the integrity of the voting system, the crime is very serious because it doesn't just affect the named people involved but it affects the community in general," Mastroianni said.
Villamaino pleaded guilty to voter fraud charges Monday. He admitted to changing the party affiliations and requesting absentee ballots of nearly 300 people in East Longmeadow, a move that could have improved his chances of winning the Republican Primary for State Representative.
"For someone to forge your name and take something that's very precious away from you is very disconcerting," said East Longmeadow's Patricia Ryan.
Ryan was one of those directly affected and told the judge in court Monday how it made her feel. She says she was angry by what he did and feels the sentence fits the crime.
"I just hope that while he is incarcerated, he won't be influenced by bad behavior and that he can kind of come out and turn his life around," Ryan said.
Villamaino's alleged accomplice, and now wife, Courtney Llewelyn did not plead guilty. Her next court date is scheduled for the end of August.
Villamaino's defense attorney who was not available for an on-camera comment says he's disappointed Villamaino will have a felony conviction on his record. He thinks it was unfair for a 35-year-old with no prior conviction.
