Chris Proffitt/Eyewitness News
Madison County, Dec. 10 - A bronze plaque on Madison County's Democratic Headquarters is dedicated to it's long-time party chairman, now arrested for voter fraud.
Seventy-year-old Tom Ashley faces two counts of voter fraud in a joint FBI-Indiana State Police investigation initiated by the county Republican Party after complaints of absentee voting irregularities in last year's city elections.
Indiana State Police Detective Keith O'Donnell says, "The individuals would actually stand and watch them vote, tell them how to vote and which holes to punch."
Also arrested was Ashley's son-in-law, 47-year-old Kyle Barber, charged with 17 counts of voter fraud, attempted obstruction of justice and perjury. Barber is married to City Clerk Shelia Barber, the daughter of Tom Ashley.
Also arrested is 25-year-old Mindy Zeller of Hamilton County, charged with four felony counts.
Investigators say the allegations range from carrying ballots out of voters' homes, providing false information on voter applications to asking witnesses to lie to investigators.
Prosecutor Rodney Cumming says, "It undermines the credibility and integrity of our election system. It's outrageous."
County Republican's alerted State Police last year after finding 70 voting irregularities.
Party Chairman Kevin Sulc says, "We did discover some applications coming in at addresses with either abandoned houses or vacant lots."
Prosecutors say that Ashley's lieutenant in the party, along with another member, plead guilty to voter fraud charges.
However, party loyalists are standing behind Ashley, rejecting suggestions that he should step down as chairman.
Jason Chubb calls him "the hardest worker in Madison County in the last 20 years."
State Police investigators are looking into more allegations, confirming what prosecutors believe is an alleged pattern of voter fraud more widespread than these latest arrests suggest.
