By Howard Koplowitz
Simon Ting, 42, of 140-14 28th Rd. in Flushing, was charged with offering a false instrument and procuring fraudulent documents to be used for voter registrations, the spokesman said.The DA spokesman said the addresses listed on 36 allegedly fraudulent voter registration forms were either 137-27 Geranium Ave. Ð Ting's home address at the time Ð or 135-29 Roosevelt Ave. Ð the site of a downtown Flushing bookstore owned by Meng. But the spokesman said Brown does not suspect that Meng Ð who became the first Asian American elected to New York state government Ð was involved in the alleged fraud and said the forms in question “had no bearing on the actual election itself.””We believe that the defendant acted alone,” he said.Meng said in a statement that while he was “sad to hear of [Tuesday's] news, it is important to note that it had no impact on my 2004 victory, which we all worked hard for.” He said he was grateful for Ting's “love and concern for the community. We should not discount that fact that he has dedicated the last few years in serving and working hard for everyone in the community.”Citing health concerns, Meng decided not to run for re-election in 2006. He upset former Assemblyman Barry Grodenchik in the 2004 primary, 51 percent to 41 percent Ð or by about 500 votes. Grodenchik defeated Meng two years earlier by more than 2,000 votes. Grace Meng campaigned for her father's seat last year but withdrew after it was found that her primary residence was in Bayside, which is located outside the district.The DA's investigation found that the people listed on the forms for the 2004 race did not live in the 22nd Assembly District, which comprises downtown Flushing, according to the spokesman. Ting was arraigned Tuesday before Queens Criminal Court Judge Alex Zigman and was released on his own recognizance and faces up to four years in prison if convicted. His next court date is scheduled for Feb. 13.The DA's office said it suspected that 36 voter registration forms were fraudulent, with the original address whited out.Brown's office was first alerted to the possible fraud by the city Board of Elections in 2004.The board conducted its own investigation into 191 forms from the 2004 primary following the election.Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 173.
