Political Scandal Unveiled: Lumberton Township Committeewoman Gina LaPlaca and Husband Face Criminal Charges
Lumberton Township Committeewoman Gina LaPlaca and her husband, Democratic operative Jason Carty, are facing criminal charges following an investigation that revealed fraudulent signatures on LaPlaca's re-election campaign petition. The Burlington County Prosecutor's Office found that some individuals whose names appeared on the petition had not actually signed it or authorized anyone to sign on their behalf. This raised questions about the validity of the signatures that enabled LaPlaca to qualify for the Democratic primary ballot in June.
LaPlaca, 47, signed an affidavit stating that she had personally collected the signatures on the petition, but further investigation revealed that Carty, 49, had also gathered signatures for her campaign. As a result, both LaPlaca and Carty are facing charges related to making false statements under oath, filing a false petition, tampering with public records, and falsifying or tampering with records.
This legal trouble comes amidst a turbulent year for LaPlaca and Carty, with LaPlaca previously pleading guilty to child endangerment in connection with a drunk-driving incident in 2025. Additionally, Carty faced charges of strangulation and harassment earlier this year following a domestic incident involving LaPlaca, although she later retracted her allegation of attempted strangulation by Carty.
The alleged fraudulent signatures on the petition submitted to the Lumberton municipal clerk have raised concerns about the integrity of the petition process. LaPlaca and Carty are scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Mount Holly on September 21 to address the charges brought against them.
In conclusion, the criminal charges against Gina LaPlaca and Jason Carty highlight the importance of upholding the integrity of the electoral process and the consequences of fraudulent activities in political campaigns. The legal proceedings will determine the outcome of the case and the implications for LaPlaca's political future.