LEXINGTON, Ky. — Two men, who were indicted in July of last your for conspiracy to buy votes in the May 2006 primary in Bath County, were sentenced today to serve three years probation, three months to be spent in home detention, by United States District Court Chief Judge Joseph M. Hood.

Danny Michael “Mike” Swartz, 50, of Olympia, Ky., who ran for, and lost, the Bath County Judge Executive seat in the May 2006 primary, pleaded guilty in October of last year to conspiracy to buy votes. Along with probation, Swartz was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and do 52 hours of community service.

David Allen Hunt, 40, of Salt Lick, Ky., who was paid by Swartz to buy votes for him in the May 2006 primary, also pleaded guilty in October of last year to conspiracy to buy votes.

Hunt and Swartz were indicted in July of last year as part of an ongoing FBI investigation into vote buying that occurred during the May 2006 Primary in Bath County. As of today, a total of 12 individuals have been indicted in relation to the investigation.

Judge Hood, while emphasizing the seriousness of the offense, credited Swartz and Hunt with immediately admitting their crime and trying to make it right by cooperating with investigators.

“The fact that you came forward, at least you can walk down the street and hold your head up,” Judge Hood said during the sentencing of Hunt. “I hope that through your actions you have ended the practice of vote buying in Bath County, but that is all I can do is hope.”

Amul Thapar, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, commended the job done by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in working this case.

“Through their outstanding work, the FBI has helped to restore the faith and trust the citizens of Bath County have in their election process, and in their government,” Thapar said. “Our office is committed to fighting public corruption at all levels and restoring the confidence citizens have in the voting process.”

Under federal law, Swartz and Hunt must serve 85 percent of their prison sentence and upon release, will be under the supervision of the United States Probation Office for three years.

The investigation was conducted the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorney Kenneth R. Taylor.

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