2 Chicago political workers jailed for manipulating absentee ballots

The Chicago Tribune reports:

Two former political workers for Ald. Bernard Stone (50th) were each sentenced to nearly a year in Cook County Jail today for attempting to manipulate absentee ballots in the Stone's hotly contested 2007 election.

Anish Eapen -- a precinct captain for Stone and a Streets and Sanitation superintendent -- was convicted in June along with Armando Ramos -- an unemployed student -- following a bench trial that began late last year.

Prosecutors charged the men with approaching residents in the ward and offering to help them cast absentee ballots, in some cases even filling out ballots for some of the alleged victims.

Eapen also allegedly used his position as a streets and sanitation official to influence voters, implying that he could help them with whatever problems they might have with the city.

No word yet on this one from Chicago Mob linked Alderman Stone.