Convicted! 2 found guilty of HOA election fraud in PA

By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities

Don’t mess with voter rights in Pennsylvania’s private communities.

Pike County District Attorney Ray Tonkin has sent a clear message. If you get caught tampering with ballots for homeowners association (HOA) elections, you will be arrested, indicted, and tried by jury.

And with clear evidence, you will be convicted of crimes of conspiracy, identity theft, and more.

The case of Wild Acres, Dingmans Ferry, PA – in the heart of the Pocono mountains – should serve as an example of how to detect and prevent HOA election fraud, as well as how to investigate and prosecute those that participate in rigging elections and important membership votes in planned communities.

Two found guilty of fixing election in Pike County private community

Two Pike County men have been convicted of election fraud, according to Pike County District Attorney Ray Tonkin.

Dmitry Kupershmidt, 42, and Myron Cowher, 53, were found guilty Monday on numerous charges related to a scheme to fix an election in the private community of Wild Acres Lakes in Delaware Township.

The convictions came after a four-day jury trial. The jury, composed of six women and six men, deliberated for approximately six hours.

Cowher was found guilty of all 217 counts charged against him relating to forgery, identity theft, criminal attempt, criminal conspiracy, tampering with records and criminal use of a communication facility.

Kupershmidt was found guilty of 190 counts relating to acting as an accomplice and co-conspirator.

…

The court scheduled sentencing for Aug. 4 for both men.

After the trial, both men were taken into custody and housed at the Pike County Correctional Facility after Judge Gregory Chelak raised Cowher’s bail to $175,000 and Kupershmidt’s bail to $125,000.

Full article: https://www.poconorecord.com/article/20160524/NEWS/160529750

For those who may be interested in details, here’s a previous report that details how the election fraud took place, and how the suspects got caught in the act.

Two men convicted in Wild Acres election fraud case