Election Fraud Cases
Ashley Gelman was charged by the state with one felony count of illegal voting and one felony count of election falsification after voting twice in the 2022 General Election. She voted early in person in Florida and again by absentee ballot in Ohio. Gelman was a former resident of Geauga County, but had moved to Broward County Florida in 2020. She pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of attempted election falsification. Gelman was sentenced to 4 days of residential community control at the Geauga County Safety Center, 1 year of probation, and fined $1,000.
Source: https://herit.ag/3PBpq5M, https://herit.ag/48tw4Up, https://herit.ag/3EVNGuu
James Saunders was charged by the state in Cuyahoga County with two felony counts of illegal voting after voting twice in the General Elections in 2020 (for Pres. Trump) and 2022. In 2020, he voted early in-person in Ohio and again in-person on Election Day in Florida. In 2022, he cast an absentee ballot in Florida and voted in person in Ohio. The investigation revealed he had also voted twice in the 2014 and 2016 elections, but could not be prosecuted for these offenses because the statute of limitations had run. He was found guilty following a bench trial and sentenced to three years in jail and fined $10,000.
Source: herit.ag/44RnZWK , herit.ag/45R6x5U, https://herit.ag/3RD6fv3
John “Jack” Burkman, along with his accomplice Jacob Wahl, was charged by the state with 15 felony counts for a robocall phone scheme in which calls were made in the name of a non-existent group called the 1599 project to tens of thousands of voters in Ohio, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, and Illinois urging voters not to vote by mail during the summer of 2020. The robocalls falsely stated that voting by mail could lead to voter information being harvested by law enforcement, debt collectors, and other government agencies. Burkman was charged with eight counts of telecommunications fraud and seven counts of “bribery” by attempting to induce individuals through unlawful means not to register or vote. He pleaded guilty to one count of telecommunications fraud in exchange for the dismissal of all other charges. He was sentenced to 180 days of house arrest with GPS monitoring, 24 months of probation, fined $2,500, plus $20 per month in supervision fees, and ordered to complete 500 hours of community service in a voter registration drive aimed at low and middle income individuals in the Washington D.C. area.
Source: herit.ag/3G510OC , herit.ag/3hAr62F, herit.ag/3V9PYfa, herit.ag/3WqjAWO, herit.ag/3YxkX82
Jacob Wohl, along with his accomplice John “Jack” Burkman, was charged by the state with 15 felony counts for a robocall phone scheme in which calls were made in the name of a non-existent group called the 1599 project to tens of thousands of voters in Ohio, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, and Illinois urging voters not to vote by mail during the summer of 2020. The robocalls falsely stated that voting by mail could lead to voter information being harvested by law enforcement, debt collectors, and other government agencies. Wohl was charged with eight counts of telecommunications fraud and seven counts of “bribery” by attempting to induce individuals through unlawful means not to register or vote. He pleaded guilty to one count of telecommunications fraud in exchange for the dismissal of all other charges. He was sentenced to 180 days of house arrest with GPS monitoring, 24 months of probation, fined $2,500, plus $20 per month in supervision fees, and ordered to complete 500 hours of community service in a voter registration drive aimed at low and middle income individuals in the Washington D.C. area.
Source: herit.ag/3G510OC , herit.ag/3hAr62F, herit.ag/3V9PYfa , herit.ag/3jdN5wS
Edward Snodgrass, a registered Republican and a Porter Township Trustee, was charged with one felony count of illegal voting after submitting an absentee ballot on behalf of his deceased father in the 2020 General Election. As part of his plea deal, Snodgrass pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of falsification, was sentenced to three days in jail, and fined $500.
Source: https://herit.ag/3BsROzS , https://herit.ag/3uVbsmM, https://herit.ag/3uRpXYz
Irnatine Boayue was charged by the state with one count of illegal voting during the 2016 general election. Boayue registered to vote despite being ineligible as a non-citizen. She pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of attempted false voter registration and was sentenced to one day in the Franklin County Correction Center. The court waived fines and court costs on account of the defendant's indigency.
Source: https://herit.ag/3i69USh, https://herit.ag/3TTpT3D, https://herit.ag/3EyoYQg
Yaakov M. Schulman, of Columbus, was found guilty of illegal voting for voting as an alien. Schulman was charged with one count of false election registration and one count of illegal voting, and was found gulty of illegal voting, a fourth degree felony, by a jury. He was sentenced to community control (probation) for two years, ordered to complete cognitive behavioral programming, and was ordered to pay a $2,500 fine and $1,812 in court fees.
Source: https://herit.ag/3kYebqx, Case no. 17 CR 005021
Reginald Holman, of Plymouth, registered to vote in Ashtabula when he actually lived with his parents in Plymouth. He was running for, and won, a position on the City Council in Ashtabula, a position for which he was ineligible. Holman resigned from his position during the investigation. Holman was charged with two counts of election falsification and one count of false voter registration, and he pled guilty to one count of election falsification. He was sentenced to ninety days in jail, which were suspended, one year of probation, and was assessed a $150 fine, plus court costs.
Source: https://herit.ag/2UV47DV
Ana Matias, of Columbus, pled guilty to False Voter Registration in violation of Section 3599.11 of the Ohio Revised Code, a Felony in the Fifth degree. Matias was charged with three counts of false election registration and two counts of illegal voting, and pleaded guilty to false voter registration. She was sentenced to community control (probation) for two years and was ordered to pay $423 in court fees.
Source: https://herit.ag/3l9XMPE, Case no. 17 CR 005017
Janitha Rippey, of Columbus, pled guilty to False Voter Registration in violation of Section 3599.11 of the Ohio Revised Code, a Felony in the Fifth degree. Rippey was charged with one count of false election registration and one count of illegal voting, and pleaded guilty to false voter registration. She was sentenced to community control (probation) for twelve months and was ordered to pay a $250 fine.
Source: https://herit.ag/3l2KfJW , Case no. 17 CR 005019
Kenyron O. Glasgow, of Columbus, pled guilty to illegal voting. Glasgow was charged with two counts of false election registration and two counts of illegal voting, and pleaded guilty to illegal voting, a fourth degree felony. He was sentenced to community control (probation) for twelve months and was ordered to pay a $200 fine and court fees.
Source: https://herit.ag/3l1pnTb, Case no. 17 CR 005020
Leslie C. Allen, of Columbus, was found guilty of attempted illegal voting. Allen was charged with one count of illegal voting, and pleaded guilty to attempted illegal voting, a fifth degree felony. She was sentenced to community control (probation) for twelve months, and was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and $168 in court fees.
Source: https://herit.ag/3l1N4ej , Case no.005022
Gilbert A. Brown, of Columbus, pled guilty to False Voter Registration in violation of Section 3599.11 of the Ohio Revised Code, a Felony in the Fifth degree. Brown was charged with one count of false election registration and one count of illegal voting, and pleaded guilty to false voter registration. He was sentenced to community control (probation) for twelve months.
Source: https://herit.ag/3y9XxIi, Case no.17 CR 005023
Carmen Lockhart, an alien, was charged by the state with one felony count of ineligible voting after voting in the 2012 General Election in Hamilton County. Lockhart agreed to plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of obstructing official business in exchange for a dismissal of the felony charge. She was sentenced to community control for two years (and advised that the court would sentence her to 90 days in jail for noncompliance), ordered to pay court costs or perform community service in lieu of costs, ordered to pay a $25 public defender fee, and ordered to complete 40 hours of community service, unless working full time.
Source: https://herit.ag/3XjDfYZ , https://herit.ag/3Zr9nMg , https://herit.ag/3k3aYaI , https://herit.ag/3Qrtcin
Awais Jamil, of Roseville, registered and voted in Muskingum County in the 2016 general election despite not being a U.S. citizen. Jamil, an immigrant from Pakistan, initially indicated in documents submitted to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles that he was not a U.S. citizen. The state nevertheless sent him a voter registration packet, at which point he falsely identified himself as a citizen in order to register. He pleaded guilty to illegal voting, a fourth-degree felony, and was sentenced to one year of probation, with an underlying sentence of 14 months in prison. Jamil now faces possible deportation as a result of his felony conviction.
Source: https://herit.ag/3hNY9wW, https://herit.ag/3EC8KVu
Rebecca Hammonds, of East Liverpool, pleaded guilty to 13 counts of making a false registration and one count of election falsification. While working as a canvasser for the Ohio Organizing Collaborative, Hammonds falsely registered voters, including deceased individuals and residents who no longer lived in the community. Hammonds was sentenced to serve 180 days in jail.
Source: https://herit.ag/3iQEhcl, https://herit.ag/3i4LiHm, https://herit.ag/3l22krt
Konstantinos Mouzos pleaded guilty to illegally voting in the 2016 election without being a U.S. citizen. He was sentenced to one year probation following a reduction in charges from one count of illegal voting, a felony, to a misdemeanor of attempted illegal voting. This illegal conduct was uncovered during an annual review by the Ohio Secretary of State of the state's voter registration database in order to identify non-citizens who are registered to vote by comparing information with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. The Secretary of State's office identified 426 non-citizens who were registered to vote in 2016; 82 of these individuals appear to have voted and have been referred to law enforcement authorities.
Source: https://herit.ag/2VgR6og, https://herit.ag/3y7H5IA
On election night, it appeared that political newcomer Ryan Horn defeated incumbent City Councilman Dennis Flores in the primary for Lorain City Council Democratic Ward 2. Flores claimed, through his attorney, that the voting was rigged. Following a lengthy trial, Common Pleas Court Judge Mark Betleski invalidated the initial election results and declared Flores to be the winner. For each ballot he tossed, Betelski outlined why it was not authorized and, hence, illegitimate.
Source: https://herit.ag/3742y9k
Jean Gobeil, a Canadian citizen, admitted that he illegally registered to vote while registing his car in Ohio and then voted in the 2012 election. Gobeil was originally charged with illegal voting, but as part of a plea bargain, the charges were reduced to obstruction of justice. He received a 90 day suspended jail sentence.
Source: https://herit.ag/2WqEPOC, https://herit.ag/3eYmLBB
Bernus Charmont, a non-citizen, admitted to illegally voting in the 2012 election. As part of a plea bargain, the charges were reduced to falsification. Common Pleas Court Judge Leslie Ghiz sentenced Charmont to one year of probation and ordered him to pay a $1,000 fine and court costs.
Source: https://herit.ag/2VcrN6D, https://herit.ag/3zBr0em
During the 2012 election, Russell Glassop obtained and submitted an absentee ballot in the name of his deceased wife. After Glassop pleaded guilty to absentee ballot fraud, the judge sentenced him to a diversion program.
Source: https://herit.ag/39BlbTv
Sister Marguerite Kloos pleaded guilty and resigned as the Dean of the Division of Arts and Humanities for The College of Mount St. Joseph's, after admitting that she cast an absentee ballot in the name of the late Sister Rose Marie Hewitt, who had died one month before the election. She was sentenced to a diversion program.
Source: https://herit.ag/3f3VCNP
Virginia McMillan, a resident of Beavercreek, Ohio, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor falsification after voting twice in the 2012 election by mail before showing up at her polling place on Election Day to vote a second time. She was sentenced 180 days in jail (160 were later suspended), 88 hours of community service, and $250 in fines.
Source: bit.ly/2e8tvQ4, https://herit.ag/3hPTTgF
Melowese Richardson, a Cincinnati poll worker, voted twice in the 2012 election, once by absentee and once in person. Not an isolated event, she voted in the names of others--including her comatose sister--in three other elections. Richardson was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison, but was released early.
Source: https://herit.ag/3i5WHqc, https://herit.ag/2XLMGal
Debbie Tingler, of Reynoldsburg, pleaded guilty to illegal voting after she voted twice by absentee ballot, once under the name Debbie Tingler and once under Deborah Tingler. She received a suspended sentence of 120 days' imprisonment, fined $200, and court costs.
Source: https://herit.ag/3hKZ2Xd, bit.ly/2sUNYv4, Case No. 12 CR 005249
Marian Wilson, from Grove City, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of illegal voting. Wilson voted twice in the 2010 general election, requesting and submitting two absentee ballots under two different names--Marian Wilson and Marian Toles. She was sentenced to one year of probation.
Source: https://herit.ag/3tTpHWF, https://herit.ag/3BIejk1
During a 2012 campaign for the statewide ballot petition on the "Voters First Ohio Amendment," a group associated with the AFL-CIO called Working America hired Timothy Zureick to collect petition signatures. Zureick forged the names of 22 prominent Athens Democrats, including those on the Athens County Board of Elections. The Democrats on the board alerted officials when their signatures appeared on the petitions they were certifying. Zureick entered into a plea agreement that stipulated he serve no prison time, but the judge nevertheless sentenced him to a week in jail to impress upon Zureick the gravity of his actions. The judge also ordered Zureick to pay all court costs within 60 days, and to perform 100 hours of community service within the first 24 months of his community control.
Source: bit.ly/2hKFnFp, https://herit.ag/3rPtL9v
Dominique Atkins pleaded guilty to misdemeanor attempted illegal voting, admitting that she received, filled out, and returned two absentee ballots in the 2010 elections. She was sentenced to 30 days in jail, but the judge suspended her sentence if she agreed to pay a $500 fine.
Source: https://herit.ag/3lIXpu5
Robert Gilchrist, a former director of the Lorain County Community Action Agency and a Lorain city official, was indicted on four felony counts of illegal voting. Gilchrist used the address of an old apartment to enable him to vote in four elections between November 2009 and May 2011 in a ward in which he did not live. Gilchrist was ordered to enter a one-year diversion program.
Source: https://herit.ag/3x5RqmL, bit.ly/2e8voMF
Roger Schantz pleaded guilty to two counts of illegal voting. Though registered in South Carolina, he also registered in Ohio and voted in both states in 2008 and 2010. He was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment in an Ohio corrections center, as well one year under community control, and was fined $500.
Source: https://herit.ag/3zpq9NA, https://herit.ag/3nNNBSr
Horace Crawford pleaded guilty to a charge of election falsification after he forged signatures on a petition to enter his name on the 2012 Democrat primary ballot for the 10th congressional district. The Montgomery County Board of Elections determined only seven signatures were valid and disqualified him from running for office. Crawford was sentenced to five years of community control.
Source: https://herit.ag/2VisyuM, Case #2012 CR 00507
Roshanda F. Croom pleaded guilty to one felony count of prohibited acts relating to petitions or declarations by filing false documents with election authorities. She was sentenced to 18 months on community control.
Source: https://herit.ag/3zFvQY3
Brenda Griffin, of Dayton, was convicted of 18 felony charges of election falsifications, filing false petitions, and forging signatures relating to a liquor license ballot initiative. Griffin, the leading petition circulator for the liquor license, turned in 320 petition signatures, despite only 109 signatures being required. The fraud was discovered when the County Board of Elections contacted several supposed signers, who reported they did not sign the petition. Griffin's sentence was reduced from a possible six to 12 months of prison time to five years of probation.
Source: https://herit.ag/3rAXUsZ
Joseph Copija, of Oceanside, California, pleaded guilty to charges of election falsification and complicity to election falsification. He forged signatures on a ballot petition aiming to get a casino initiative on the Ohio ballot in 2008. Copija was sentenced to six months' imprisonment and ordered to pay court costs.
Source: https://herit.ag/3lHsSgn, https://herit.ag/3i8YZVS, (Case #09CR000368)
Deshara M. McKinney, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to falsifying signatures on applications for absentee ballots while working as a canvasser in the 2009 ballot initiative to allow casinos in Ohio. McKinney fled the state after her fraud was discovered, and was eventually arrested in Michigan. She was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to complete 40 hours of community service. She was also required to pay court costs and the cost of her extradition.
Source: https://herit.ag/3tTpGC5
A California resident was convicted of illegally circulating a ballot petition for USA Consultants in an effort to legalize gambling in Ohio. Furthermore, Ramirez paid Ohio voters to sign their names on empty ballots. Over half the signatures on the petition were invalid. Ramirez was sentenced to 120 days in prison and three years of community control.
Source: https://herit.ag/37iNPYp, https://herit.ag/3f4Fagf
Cathy LaMaster pleaded guilty to attempted false election registration. She filled out an absentee ballot for herself in Franklin County, and filled another out for her daughter in Guernsey County, where she goes to school. LaMaster was fined $1,000 and sentenced to one year on probation with a suspended six-month jail sentence.
Source: https://herit.ag/3EzxkGD, https://herit.ag/2TBqrSs, https://herit.ag/3hS6FLA
Darnell Nash pleaded guilty to three counts of false registration for filling out voter registration forms under false names and addresses. The 24-year-old Cleveland man registered nine times in 2008 using false names and addresses. Nash was sentenced to six months in jail.
Source: https://herit.ag/3rExWo8, https://herit.ag/2Vf1DjE
Terry Belli, of Gahanna, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge after he voted twice in the 2008 election. He voted in both Franklin and Fairfield counties. Belli was sentenced to 180 days' imprisonment, which would be suspended if he paid a $1,000 fine within three months.
Source: https://herit.ag/3CtpOv1
Donshay Lemar Carter pleaded guilty to one charge of filing a false petition. He was ordered to complete one year of community control.
Source: https://herit.ag/3BWg0dN
Jowan Christian pleaded guilty to violating Ohio's prohibitions relating to petitions or declarations law. She received a deferred 12-month prison sentence pending completion of 12 months of community control.
Source: https://herit.ag/3l01snh
Brenda Cornwell, of Hardin County, pleaded guilty to prohibitions related to petitions or declarations, election falsification, and forgery. She was sentenced to three years' community control and ordered to pay a $50 fine, attorney's fees, and court costs.
Source: https://herit.ag/3knbHBm (Case #CR 20072115)
Michele Finney, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge related to voter fraud in the 2008 election. Finney had signed her son's absentee ballot and voted herself. She was sentenced to 180 days' imprisonment, which would be suspended if she paid the $1000 fine within three months.
Source: https://herit.ag/3nVCuHf
Daniel Hausman, Amy Little, and Yolanda Hippensteele, who worked for an advocacy group, each pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges, admitting that they changed their residencies to Ohio and voted on the same day during the early voting period. Ohio law requires that voters be residents of the state for at least 30 days before voting. All three were sentenced to a year's probation, a $1,000 fine and a 60-day suspended jail sentence.
Source: https://herit.ag/3xbrx54
Christopher Hargrove pleaded guilty to one charge of voter registration fraud. He also pleaded guilty to a fifth-degree felony theft offense. He received two suspended nine-month prison sentences and was ordered to complete one year of community control.
Source: https://herit.ag/3l5QmNs, https://herit.ag/3i9uiQm
Danielle Phillips, of Hardin County, pleaded guilty to voter fraud. She was sentenced to three years' community control and 75 hours' community service, and was ordered to pay a $50 fine, court costs, and attorney's fees.
Source: https://herit.ag/3zGwGUp , (Case #20072007)
Jalynn Stowers, of Hardin County, pleaded guilty to one count of prohibitions relating to petitions or declarations, an election fraud charge. She was sentenced to two years of community control and ordered to pay a $50 fine, court costs, and attorney's fees.
Source: https://herit.ag/376jADE , (Case #20072005)
Kevin Duffy pleaded guilty to voting early in Ohio, where he was not a resident, in the presidential election. He was sentenced to one year of probation and a $1,000 fine, along with 250 hours of community service.
Source: https://herit.ag/3zFevhZ
Christine Freshour, of Riverside, pleaded guilty to election fraud. She was ordered to pay court costs and attorney's fees.
Source: https://herit.ag/3iVp3CY, (Case #CR 07 06 0125)
Alan Szabo, of Springfield, pleaded guilty to three felony counts of election fraud. He was sentenced to 60 days' imprisonment in the county jail, five years' community control, and was required to pay court costs, attorney's fees, and pay a $250 fine.
Source: https://herit.ag/3x2taSE , (Case #CR 06 11 0239)
Rachelle Zimmerman, of Hardin County, pleaded guilty to one county of felony election fraud. She was sentenced to two years' community control and ordered to pay a $50 fine and court costs.
Source: https://herit.ag/3l7VIIh , (Case #20072008)
Claudel Gilbert, a Haitian immigrant, pleaded guilty to voting twice in the 2006 elections. Gilbert received a suspended six-month prison sentence, one year probation, and $500 in fines.
Source: https://herit.ag/3krMOVg
Following a jury trial, Jacqueline Maiden, the elections coordinator of the Cuyahoga County Elections Board, and ballot manager Kathleen Dreamer were convicted of negligent misconduct and failure to perform their duties in connection with a 2004 presidential election recount. Each was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment. In an effort to save time, the pair rigged the recount by pre-selecting for review by election officials ballots that they knew would not raise issues. Their efforts did not alter the results of the presidential election.
Source: https://herit.ag/3rH6beL, https://herit.ag/3zENiMm, https://herit.ag/3y9ysNC
Katherine Morrow, of Jackson, Tennessee, pleaded guilty in Ohio court to two felony counts of election fraud. She was sentenced to five years' community control and ordered to pay a $500 fine and court costs.
Source: https://herit.ag/3x9CrZh , (Case #CR 06 11 0231)
Following a jury trial, Charles and Jerolynn Worrell were found guilty of illegal voting for falsely registering and voting. The pair indicated that they lived at a Summit County address where they did not reside. They received a sentence of six months' incarceration, suspended upon completion of one year of community control and other sanctions.
Source: https://herit.ag/2WqEMCq
Melissa Sparks, of Springfield, pleaded guilty to three felony charges of election fraud. She was sentenced to five years' community control and fined $250.
Source: https://herit.ag/3iTTDNd , (Case #CR 06 12 0244)
Chad Staton pleaded guilty to 10 felony counts for filing false voter registrations in exchange for crack cocaine. Staton allegedly filled out more than 100 forms with names such as Mary Poppins, Michael Jackson, Michael Jordan, Dick Tracy, and George Lopez prior to the 2004 presidential election. He then handed them over to Georgianne Pitts, who worked on behalf of the NAACP National Voter Fund, who turned in the form to the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections. Staton was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment each for six counts of the fifth-degree felony, to be served consecutively, according to court personnel.
Source: https://herit.ag/3f1ZBKQ
Cynthia McCloud pleaded guilty to two charges of inducing illegal voting and false registration (in an effort to help her friend Jon Saylor become a Fairfield city councilman), and was sentenced to five years of probation, ordered to complete 80 hours of community service, and pay a $2,500 fine.
Source: bit.ly/2xj2BxC, bit.ly/2f8w7uc
Jon Saylor ordered absentee ballots sent to the home of a friend, and then filled them out as votes for himself. After winning the seat of the 1st Ward councilman in Fairfield, Ohio, the election results were called into question and an investigation was opened. Saylor was convicted of 29 counts of false registrations, one count of inducing illegal voting, 12 counts of absentee voter's ballot violation, 14 counts of illegal voting, one count of election falsification, and one count of interference with the conduct of an election. He was sentenced to 24 months' imprisonment.
Source: bit.ly/2f8w7uc, https://herit.ag/3iWalvd