Two Arrested For Absentee Ballot Fraud In Homestead Mayoral Election

  Two men who are suspected of filling out four false absentee ballots during last year’s mayoral election in Homestead have been arrested. James Brady, 31, and Samuel Jean, 42, are accused of entering a Homestead home and filling out four absentee ballots against the wishes of those living there.

  Brady and Jean both surrendered themselves to Miami-Dade County police on Thursday afternoon.

  Brady also resigned from his position as corresponding secretary at the Miami-Dade County Republican Party before turning himself in to authorities.

  Both men worked for then-candidate Mark Bell, who eventually lost the election to current mayor Jeff Porter.

  “Criminal activities which aim to undermine our voting process should offend every citizen of Dade County,” said state attorney Katherine Fermandez Rundle in an official statement. “The actions of my prosecutors and the Miami-Dade Police Department to effectively charge those who try to steal any citizen’s vote show our deep commitment to clean and honest elections.”

  Bell is the husband of outgoing County Commissioner and former Homestead mayor Lynda Bell.

  Brady ran unsuccessfuly in January for a seat on the Florida City commission.

  “Obviously we believe that he’s not guilty,” said Thomas Cobitz, Brady’s defense attorney. “All the facts will come out in the trial.”

  Neither Fernandez Rundle’s statement or the arrest warrants addressed what roles Brady or Jean played in Bell’s campaign for Homestead’s mayoral seat.

  The issue was first made public during a mayoral debate hosted by the Homestead Rotary Club almost a year ago.

  During the debate, Bell addressed allegations of absentee ballot fraud.

  “Just recently, a campaign worker that I hired and works for me, had claims made of absentee ballot fraud,” said Bell. “I immediately became aware of this, called my campaign worker in, asked him what was going on, and because I will run only an ethical campaign, I asked him what was going on.”

  Bell continued, “He said ‘there’s absolutely no bearing to those charges’ and that he is innocent. So I said just to make everything look proper, he agreed to step down from the campaign, and is not part of my campaign now until this matter is cleared up. I’ve taken the leadership of what needs to be done and nipped it right in the bud.”

  Bell accused Porter’s campaign of muck raking by saying Bell himself was involved in the “absentee ballot shenanigans.”

  During the debate, Bell claimed a man who worked for Porter was also under investigation for absentee ballot fraud, and was still under the employ of Porter for $5,000 by Bell’s estimation.

  More information on this case will be made available as it is released.