Former Pineville Mayor Pleads Guilty to Vote Buying Conspiracy

LONDON, KY—Robert L. “Bob” Madon, of Pineville, Ky. pleaded guilty today to a conspiracy to buy votes that helped him win the 2006 mayoral election in Pineville. During his guilty plea, Madon admitted he conspired with his son, Brent Madon, to pay cash to Pineville residents to cast absentee votes. Bob Madon also admitted he gave Brent Madon money to pay voters who were willing to sell their vote. In the 2006 mayoral election, Bob Madon received 250 absentee votes while his opponent only received 55.

According to the plea agreement, in early November of 2007, Brent Madon paid four or five Pineville residents between $10 and $20 to cast an absentee vote for his father. He also drove them to the courthouse and instructed them on exactly what to say to the clerk to obtain an absentee ballot.

The plea agreement also stated that a Pineville police officer overheard Brent’s instructions to a Pineville resident. Brent Madon alerted his father of this matter and Bob Madon met the female at her residence and paid her $50.00 for gas money to leave the county on election day.

James A. Zerhusen, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Timothy D. Cox, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, jointly made the announcement today after Bob Madon entered his guilty plea. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The United States was represented in the case by Assistant United States Attorneys Patrick H. Molloy and J. Thompson.

Brent Madon is currently scheduled to appear for sentencing before United States District Court Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove in London, Ky. on August 12, 2009 and Bob Madon will be sentenced the following day. Both face a maximum sentence of five years in prison. However, any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the United States Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of sentences.

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