Suspect charged with willful and malicious burning of MA ballot box, Lelling appoints election integrity monitor

According to Boston Police, at about 10:50 p.m. on Sunday, October 25, 2020, officers assigned to the District D-4 (South End) Drug Control Unit were on patrol in the area of Copley Square when they observed a male matching the description of the suspect from a prior incident in which a ballot box was set on fire. Officers approached the individual and eventually were able to ascertain his identity. A query led to the discovery that the male had an active straight warrant out of Ipswich District Court for Receiving Stolen Property. The male, identified as Worldy Armand, 39-years-old, of Boston, was taken into custody.

Following a thorough investigation, members of the Fire Investigation Unit were able to identify Armand as the suspect in the incident described below.
At about 4:11 AM on Sunday, October 25, 2020, officers assigned to District D-4 (South End) responded to a request for BPD response to the area of 700 Boylston Street in Boston. On arrival, officers observed Boston Fire on scene tending to smoke coming from an early voting ballot box. The ballot box appeared to be on fire, but the firefighters were unable to determine if the fire was burning inside of the box. Eventually, crews were able to extinguish the fire by filling the ballot box with water.

Armand is expected to be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court on the charge of Willful and Malicious Burning.

In a related story, United States Attorney Andrew Lelling announced today that Assistant United States Attorney Eugenia Carris will lead the efforts of his Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming Nov. 3, 2020, general election.

AUSA Carris has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer for the District of Massachusetts, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights concerns in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.

“Fair elections are the foundation of our democracy,” said U.S. Attorney Lelling. “Every citizen has the Constitutional right to cast his or her vote on election day free from intimidation, harassment and discrimination. The Department of Justice will do its part to ensure the integrity of the election process by enforcing federal laws that protect voters and investigating reports of fraud. We encourage the public to report concerns to us.”

In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights concerns during the voting period that ends on Nov. 3, 2020, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA/DEO Carris will be on duty in Massachusetts while the polls are open and can be reached by the public at 617-748-3363.

In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on Election Day. The local FBI field office can be reached at 857-386-2000.

Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can also be made to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at 800-253-3931 or at https://civilrights.justice.gov/.