LI Man Submitted Absentee Ballot Applications For Dead Mother: DA

WATER MILL, NY — A Water Mill man was arrested and charged with submitting absentee ballot applications for his deceased mother, Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini said.

Wayne Tappe, 57, was arrested and charged with two counts of offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree, a felony, Sini said. Tappe is scheduled to be arraigned in Suffolk County First District Court on Nov. 5.

The Suffolk County Board of Elections received two applications for absentee ballots for Lucille Tappe, of Commack, purportedly signed on Sept. 4 and Oct. 6, Sini said.

The BOE was notified in June by the New York State Department of Health that Lucille Tappe died on June 16, Sini said. But on Sept. 9, the BOE received an application for an absentee ballot from her son, Sini said.

In addition, the BOE had received an absentee ballot application from Wayne Tappe in March; the BOE referred the two applications purported to be from Lucille Tappe and the two applications from Wayne Tappe, to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office for investigation, Sini said.

A forensic scientist at the Suffolk County crime laboratory conducted a handwriting analysis of the September application from Lucille Tappe and found that it was written by Wayne Tappe, Sini said.

If convicted, Tappe faces a maximum sentence of one and one-third to four years in prison, Sini said.

“Voting is the foundation of our democracy, and we will not tolerate any violation of the election process here in Suffolk County,” Sini said. “My office is committed to investigating any and all instances of alleged voter fraud and prosecuting anyone who attempts to violate the security of our elections."

Any Suffolk County residents looking to report suspected voter fraud are asked to call Sini's public integrity bureau at 631-853-8298.