Former Monroe County Judge-Executive Found Guilty of Conspiracy in Vote-Buying Scheme

BOWLING GREEN, KY—Wilbur P. Graves, age 54, of Tompkinsville, Kentucky, the former Monroe County judge-executive has been found guilty by a federal jury in Bowling Green, Kentucky of conspiring with others to buy votes during the November 2006, general election in order to re-elect himself, announced United States Attorney David J. Hale of the Western District of Kentucky and Elizabeth A. Fries, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Louisville Field Office. On a separate charge of vote buying, the jury was unable to reach a verdict.

“Vote buying will not be tolerated in Kentucky. This verdict should put on notice all who believe they can affect the outcome of an election by buying votes or otherwise subverting the democratic process,” stated U.S. Attorney Hale. Hale also applauded the outstanding investigative efforts of the FBI in “gathering compelling evidence leading to the successful prosecution of this case.”

According to information presented at trial, beginning in October 2006, and continuing to the general election on November 7, 2006, Graves conspired with Wanda L. Moore, Ronald D. Muse, and Gary M. Bartley, all of Tompkinsville, Kentucky, to pay voters to cast walk-in absentee ballots. Those being paid for their vote would file a voter assistance form whereby falsely stating that they were blind, disabled, or unable to read English and thus in need of assistance to vote. Members of the conspiracy would then accompany the voters into the booth to cast the voters’ ballots for Graves and other candidates. The money used to pay the voters was provided by Graves, who was running for county judge-executive.

During the three-day trial, Moore testified that Graves had given her money to buy votes and that she had paid around 140 people for their votes with some receiving $40 and others $60. Moore also testified that she cooperated with an FBI investigation by wearing a recording device on two occasions while speaking with Graves about paying for votes during the election. The video tapes were presented to jurors during the trial before Judge Joseph H. McKinley, Jr.

Muse, another conspirator, testified during trial that he would receive money from Graves to pay for votes during meetings at Graves’ home or farm. Muse and Moore entered plea agreements with the United States Attorney’s Office and agreed to testify at trial. Bartley pleaded guilty to his role in the vote buying scheme and, along with Muse and Moore, will be sentenced later this year in United States District Courts.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas W. Dyke, Assistant United States Attorney Chief, Criminal Division Randy Ream, and Edward Kang, Department of Justice Public Integrity Section. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The maximum potential penalties for Graves are five years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and supervised release for a period of three years.

Graves is scheduled to be sentenced on June 17, 2011 at 9 a.m. in United States District Court, Bowling Green, Kentucky.