Ex-NJ Campaign Worker Loses Appeal to Avoid Jail

New Jersey's attorney general says a campaign worker has lost his bid to stay out of jail after admitting he submitted fraudulent absentee ballots in a 2007 state senate race.

Angel Colon was sentenced in January 2012 to five years of probation, over the state's objection.

The attorney general said Friday that the state superior court's appellate division ruled that Colon must be sentenced to jail time.

The 50-year-old Newark resident pleaded guilty in 2011 to election fraud. Prosecutors say Colon helped collect ballots on behalf of Teresa Ruiz, who won the election and still serves in the senate. Colon admitted to submitting messenger ballots on behalf of voters in the Essex County-based 29th District without their knowledge.

Authorities have said Ruiz and her staff cooperated fully in the investigation.

(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)