PITTSBURGH — A South Park man was charged with casting a vote on behalf of his wife who had been dead since 2013.
According to police, the Allegheny County Elections Bureau contacted police after discovering a ballot had been filled out by Judy Presto. Presto was confirmed as having died in 2013 and was survived by her husband, Francis Presto.
Police contacted Presto who told them his mail had been stolen and he had to file a report with the postal service. After searching postal service records, police couldn’t find any record of a report being filed.
An attorney for Presto then contacted police, saying his client told him he had been the victim of credit car fraud and identity theft after having gotten rid of his computer during the township’s electronics recycling program. Investigators said they found no reports of identity theft or credit card fraud made by Presto.
A search of state election records found that someone registered Judy Presto to vote in August. Someone had also requested a mail in ballot on her behalf.
Police said the mail in ballot application included personal information, such as social security number, birthdate, and how long Judy Presto had lived at her address, that wouldn’t be known to someone who did not know her.
Investigators were able to track the computer’s IP address, or a series of numbers assigned to each device connected to a computer network that accesses the internet, to Presto’s home in South Park. It was the same computer investigators said was used to request and fill out the mail in ballot.
Francis Presto was charged with forging and destruction of ballots, unlawful use of a computer, and interference with primaries and elections.
The fraudulent ballot has not yet been located.
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