Polling Company Pleads Guilty to Fraud

Newsday.com
September 19, 2006

An employee of a company that conducted campaign polls for President George W. Bush, Senator Joe Lieberman and other Republican candidates pleaded guilty Tuesday to making up poll results, according to the U.S. Attorney's office. Darryl Hylton, 42, of Hamden pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in Bridgeport to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The Guilford-based company, DataUSA, is now known as Viewpoint USA.

Hylton admitted that he conspired to falsify survey and polling results to meet deadlines or other requirements that DataUSA otherwise could not meet. He also admitted that he directed other DataUSA employees to falsify results in a variety of ways, including changing demographic information, such as gender, to satisfy client requirements. Hylton faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 when he is sentenced on Dec. 11th.