Marie Beren, a 67-year-old Philadelphia resident, and former Democratic staffer was charged with four violations of voter fraud during 2015 and 2019. She stands accused of falsifying votes during those two years.
Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer Arbitter Williams filed the federal charges against Beren, a then-staffer for Philadelphia City Councilmember Mark Squilla. Beren allegedly was involved in a conspiracy to falsify votes in multiple divisions along with another person, identified as “Consultant #1”.
“Consultant #1” is a former elected official that “held himself out as an effective and successful political operative capable of ensuring his clients’ electoral success.” The Philadelphia Inquirer claims that “Consultant #1 is former U.S. Democratic Rep. Ozzie Myers of Pennsylvania.
Meyers was accused of stuffing the ballot boxes in 2014,m 2015, and 2016 for specific candidates. He was also charged with bribing election judge Domenick J. Demuro.
The feds say longtime City Hall employee Marie Beren cast fraudulent votes for candidates at all levels of government. https://t.co/YYC3jI1zVn
— Philly Mag (@phillymag) October 13, 2021
Consultant #1 “exercised influence and control in Philadelphia’s 39th ward by paying out cash and by supporting relatives of clients who ran for office. Consultant #1 “exercised influence and control in Philadelphia’s 39th Ward by distributing cash payments and supporting family, friends and allies for elective office in the 39th Ward, and installing Ward Leaders, Judges of Elections, and Democratic State Committee,” the complaint states, according to Philadelphia Magazine.
Federal officials allege Consultant #1 used Beren as a committee administrator for the Democratic Party’s division in South Philadelphia’s 39th Ward in 1984, Philadelphia Magazine reported. The same consultant in 1988 also used Beren to serve as a judge of elections for the same division. Philadelphia Magazine noted that officials had labeled Beren as the “de facto judge of elections” for all the divisions she served.
Prosecutors have not laid out how many fraudulent votes Beren cast or created and whether said votes impacted the results of an election, according to Philadelphia Magazine.
“The charges were made against Beren, not Councilmember Squilla,” a staffer for Squilla told the Daily Caller Thursday when reached for comment, adding that Beren had officially retired Sept. 10.
Court records state Beren is not yet represented by an attorney, according to Philadelphia Magazine.
