Source: Fox News
Introduction
A former New Jersey municipal leader is facing serious criminal allegations alongside her spouse after law enforcement officials uncovered fraudulent signatures on her election paperwork. Ex-Lumberton Township Mayor Gina LaPlaca and her husband, Jason Carty, were formally charged following an investigation into petitions submitted for a Democratic primary contest.
The latest legal trouble compounds a turbulent period for LaPlaca, who previously entered a guilty plea in a separate driving under the influence case involving her young child. Investigators assert that the inclusion of unauthorized signatures was critical to her candidacy qualification, as her submission otherwise lacked the requisite voter support.
What Happened
The Burlington County Prosecutor's Office announced the charges against LaPlaca and Carty on a Tuesday. LaPlaca, who is 47 years old and maintains her position on the township committee, faces counts of making a false statement under oath, knowingly filing a false petition, tampering with public records, and falsifying or tampering with records.
Carty, 49, stands accused of knowingly filing a false petition, tampering with public records, and falsifying or tampering with records. According to the prosecution, Carty submitted the contested paperwork to the Lumberton Township Municipal Clerk. This filing included a signed affidavit wherein LaPlaca attested that she personally circulated the petition and that every signer executed the document in their own handwriting.
Subsequent inquiries by the prosecutor's office revealed that numerous citizens whose names appeared on the paperwork never signed the document. Furthermore, these individuals confirmed they never granted authorization for anyone else to endorse the candidate on their behalf. Authorities concluded that without these contested endorsements, the petition would have fallen short of the mandatory threshold to secure LaPlaca a spot on the June Democratic primary ballot for the Lumberton Township Committee.
Background
LaPlaca previously held the office of mayor for Lumberton Township from 2021 until 2025. Although her tenure as mayor concluded, she retained her seat on the township committee, with her current term scheduled to expire at the conclusion of the year.
In an effort to secure another term, she campaigned in the June Democratic primary for the committee. She ultimately finished third in a race for two open seats, trailing behind Mayor Terrance Benson and fellow candidate Kendra Hatfield.
This political controversy unfolds shortly after LaPlaca pleaded guilty earlier in the year to charges stemming from an impaired driving incident. Law enforcement records from March 2025 indicated that she was intoxicated while collecting her child from a local daycare facility. Witness footage captured her vehicle erratically departing from its designated lane and narrowly missing a utility pole while the child remained a passenger inside the automobile. Subsequent police testing revealed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.30 percent, which is nearly four times the legal threshold in New Jersey. For that offense, she received a sentence involving three years of supervision through a pretrial intervention program, accompanied by mandatory participation in Alcoholics Anonymous gatherings.
Timeline
| Date / Period | Event Details |
|---|---|
| 2021 – 2025 | Gina LaPlaca serves as the mayor of Lumberton Township. |
| March 2025 | LaPlaca is arrested following an intoxicated driving incident involving her child. |
| Earlier in 2025 | LaPlaca pleads guilty to the DUI case and enters a pretrial intervention program. |
| June 2025 / Primary | LaPlaca runs in the Democratic primary for the Lumberton Township Committee, finishing third. |
| Tuesday (Announcement) | The Burlington County Prosecutor's Office publicly announces the new petition-related charges. |
| Sept. 21 | Scheduled court appearance for LaPlaca and Carty in Mount Holly, New Jersey. |
Key Details
The investigation into the municipal primary paperwork uncovered systematic discrepancies regarding voter endorsements. The Burlington County Prosecutor's Office confirmed that multiple citizens listed on the nominating documents formally denied signing them or permitting anyone to execute their names. Without these specific entries, the submission lacked legal validity under state election requirements.
The legal fallout encompasses multiple serious indictments for both defendants. LaPlaca faces four distinct criminal charges regarding false statements, petition filing, and record tampering, while Carty faces three of those same counts.
Impact
The unfolding legal proceedings directly affect the political landscape of Lumberton Township, where LaPlaca continues to hold her committee seat as her final term draws to a close. The allegations of fraudulent petition signatures cast a shadow over local election integrity and the administrative processes governing primary qualification.
Additionally, the compounding legal challenges follow closely behind a highly publicized drunk driving conviction. Together, these events mark a severe downturn in the public standing and political career of the former mayor.
What Happens Next
The defendants are scheduled to make their next appearance in court on Sept. 21. The proceedings will take place in Mount Holly, New Jersey, where the judicial process for the falsification and record-tampering charges will formally advance.
