While quite a bit of our discussion on ACORN deals with their institutional support for child prostitution and racketeering, the harm Acorn does by indulging in elections fraud is going to result in quite a few "community organizers" receiving criminal convictions.
The following story is about ACORN sotto capo (under boss) Christopher Edwards. He got probation for agreeing to testify against capofamiglia (regional boss) Amy Busefink.
Rumors have it that little Amy is not going to go down without taking down the capo di tutti capi (boss of bosses) with her and is now negotiating her own deal.
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http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/nov/23/ex-acorn-official-gets-probation-voter-registratio/
Ex-ACORN official gets probation for voter registration plan
By Cara McCoy
Las Vegas Sun
Monday, Nov. 23, 2009 | 10:01 a.m.
A former field director for the political advocacy organization ACORN was sentenced today in district court to up to three years of probation.
Christopher Edwards, who in August pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit a crime of compensation for registration of voters, a gross misdemeanor, received a suspended jail sentence and a $500 fine. He has agreed to testify against ACORN and one of its former regional directors, Amy Busefink.
The Nevada attorney generals office has accused ACORN and Busefink of operating an illegal bonus system. Tying money to or setting quotas for collecting voter registration cards is illegal under Nevada law.
I take responsibility for what I did, Edwards told the court. Im sorry, I truly am.
Busefink and ACORN pleaded not guilty on Oct. 27. A trial date is set for April 19.
If convicted, Busefink likely would face probation or less than one year in jail. ACORN could see a $5,000 fine.
The attorney generals office said Edwards organized and operated a quota system called blackjack or 21+ through which the group paid canvassers based on the number of voter registration cards they collected each day. The canvassers were to gather at least 20 completed cards daily and anyone who turned in 21 or more would be given an extra $5.
Busefink, as a manager, is said to have approved the blackjack program. But ACORN officials have said Edwards acted alone in developing and carrying it out.
In handing down his sentence, Judge Donald Mosley said he wasnt pleased with the negotiations but cited Edwards agreement to testify in giving him probation. Edwards is also required to complete community service.
Nevada Chief Deputy Attorney General Conrad Hafen is the lead prosecutor in the case. He wasnt present in court today; David Rickert, a prosecutor in the attorney generals office, declined comment after the hearing. Edwards and his attorney, Dan Silverstein, declined to speak with the media.
An election task force last year began to investigate ACORN over questionable voter registration tactics. The charges against Edwards, ACORN and Busefink stemmed from information obtained during that investigation.