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© Reuters
A former Philadelphia election official has pleaded guilty to taking thousands of dollars in bribes to stuff the ballot boxes for Democrats in local races between 2014 and 2016.

Domenick J. DeMuro, 73, a former judge of elections in South Philadelphia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to deprive Philadelphia voters of their civil rights when he padded the votes for the elected positions, U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain announced Thursday.

"DeMuro fraudulently stuffed the ballot box by literally standing in a voting booth and voting over and over, as fast as he could, while he thought the coast was clear," said U.S. Attorney McSwain in a statement.

"This is utterly reprehensible conduct. The charges announced today do not erase what he did, but they do ensure that he is held to account for those actions."

DeMuro pocketed between $300 and $5,000 in bribes per election as he oversaw the electoral process in his district, prosecutors said.

He rang up votes for three Democratic candidates for Common Pleas Court judge in 2015; as well as for other Democratic candidates local, state and federal offices in 2014 and 2016, the Philadephia Inquirer reported.

An unnamed political consultant would slip the payments to DeMuro and in exchange he would add votes for the consultant's clients or preferred candidates. The crooked consultant had funded the bribes through "consulting fees" he would charge his clients, according to McSwain.

Other Philadelphia election officials also received payments to tamper with votes, the US attorney said.

DeMuro would typically add the fake votes on Election Day and later falsy certify that the results were accurate, McSwain found.

"Domenick DeMuro put a thumb on the scale for certain candidates, in exchange for bribes," said Michael J. Driscoll, the special agent in charge of the FBI's Philadelphia Division.

"As public trust in the electoral process is vital, the FBI's message today is clear: election interference of any kind, by hostile foreign actors or dishonest local officials, won't be tolerated."

DeMuro also pleaded guilty to violating the Travel Act when he used his cell phone to facilitate the bribery, McSwain's office said.

McSwain's office did not name the candidates and it was unclear if they had won their elections.