Election Fraud Cases

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StateMichiganYear2023NameNancy Juanita WilliamsCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots, Illegal "Assistance" At The Polls

Nancy Williams was charged by the state in Wayne County with 3 felony counts of forging a signature on an absentee ballot, 2 felony counts of election law forgery, 5 misdemeanor counts of false statements on applications for absentee ballots, and 7 misdemeanor counts of receiving a payment to influence vote after participating in an absentee ballot trafficking scheme involving elderly voters at a nursing care facility. She submitted voter registration and absentee ballot applications for 26 legally incapacitated residents under her care without their consent. Williams had the absentee ballots mailed directly to her. She pleaded guilty to 7 counts of receiving a payment to influence vote in exchange for dismissal of the other charges, was sentenced to one year of probation, fined $3,500, and assessed $1,096 in fees. Similar charges against Williams in Oakland County are still pending.

Source: herit.ag/3EHTtE1 , herit.ag/3rdlfVE

StateOhioYear2022NameJohn BurkmanCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeIllegal "Assistance" At The Polls

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

StateOhioYear2022NameJacob WohlCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeIllegal "Assistance" At The Polls

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

StateLouisianaYear2020NameDelores "Dee" HandyCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeIllegal "Assistance" At The Polls

Delores "Dee" Handy, of Crowley was found guilty of failing to mark a ballot as instructed when assisting an elderly voter, a misdemeanor. She was sentenced to 11 months in jail which was suspended, two years of probation, and fined $800.

Source: https://herit.ag/3i9o8PS, https://herit.ag/3zFrFLL

StateTexasYear2018NameRosita FloresCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeIllegal "Assistance" At The Polls

Rosita Flores, of Robstown, illegally obtained an elderly voter's mail-ballot, filled it out, and cast the ballot without the permission of the voter. Flores pleaded guilty and received a suspended one-year jail sentence, 18 months of probation, and was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and $316 in court costs. She was also ordered to complete 60 hours of community service and spend 10 consecutive Saturdays in the San Patricio County Jail.

Source: https://herit.ag/3y3ByTf

StateGeorgiaYear2017NameCharlie Mack WootenCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeIllegal "Assistance" At The Polls

Following an investigation by the Georgia Secretary of State's office, it was revealed that Charlie Mack Wooten and his fellow conspirators, "did in fact provide assistance to electors who were not physically disabled or illiterate." He and four other individuals were indicted by a grand jury in May 2016 for election fraud stemming from the November 2012 election. In lieu of going to trial, Wooten plead guilty to misdemeanor charges.

Source: https://herit.ag/3kYteR2, https://herit.ag/3x95tZ0

StateGeorgiaYear2017NameEvelyn GriffinCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeIllegal "Assistance" At The Polls

Following an investigation by the Georgia Secretary of State's office, it was revealed that Evelyn Griffin and her fellow conspirators, "did in fact provide assistance to electors who were not physically disabled or illiterate." She and four other individuals were indicted by a grand jury in May 2016 for election fraud stemming from the November 2012 election. In lieu of going to trial, Griffin plead guilty to misdemeanor charges.

Source: https://herit.ag/37184t9, https://herit.ag/3f1ZCyo

StateGeorgiaYear2017NameJames Curtis HicksCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeIllegal "Assistance" At The Polls

Following an investigation by the Georgia Secretary of State's office, it was revealed that James Curtis Hicks and his fellow conspirators, "did in fact provide assistance to electors who were not physically disabled or illiterate." He and four other individuals were indicted by a grand jury in May 2016 for election fraud stemming from the November 2012 election. In lieu of going to trial, Hicks plead guilty to misdemeanor charges.

Source: https://herit.ag/3x7ryHs, https://herit.ag/2WlR0fn

StateTexasYear2015NameBernice GarciaCase TypeDiversion ProgramFraud TypeIllegal "Assistance" At The Polls

Bernice Garcia, of Cameron County, engaged in illegal vote harvesting during the 2012 Democratic Primary run-off election. Garcia faced three misdemeanor charges for unlawful voter assistance, unlawful method of returning a marked ballot, and unlawful possession of another's ballot. Garcia entered a conditional plea and was given a one year Deferred Prosecution Contract for the offense of unlawfully assisting a voter.

Source: https://herit.ag/2Vdv5qr

StateTexasYear2015NameFacunda Garcia Case TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeIllegal "Assistance" At The Polls

Following an investigation by the Texas Attorney General's office, Facunda Garcia was charged along with five others, for illegal assistance at the polls during the 2012 Democratic primary runoff election in Cameron County. She pleaded guilty to filling out the ballot for a female voter without that voter's direction to do so. Garcia was sentenced to three days in jail, but was given credit for time served; court costs and fees were waived.

Source: https://herit.ag/378DIF6

StateTexasYear2015NameTomasa Ramirez ChavezCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeIllegal "Assistance" At The Polls

Following an investigation by the Texas Attorney General's office, Tomasa Ramirez Chavez was charged with engaging in election fraud, along with five others during the 2012 Democratic Primary runoff election in Cameron County. She pleaded guilty to illegal "assistance" at the polls and was sentenced to a suspended sentence of six months' jail time and required to complete one year community supervision and to pay a $250 fine.

Source: https://herit.ag/3l01onx

StateTexasYear2015NameVicenta Guajardo VerinoCase TypeDiversion ProgramFraud TypeIllegal "Assistance" At The Polls

Following an investigation by the Texas Attorney General's office, Vicenta Guajardo Verino was charged with engaging in election fraud, along with five others during the 2012 Democratic Primary runoff election in Cameron County. After admitting that he provided illegal 'assistance' at the polls, Verino entered into a deferred adjudication agreement. She was required to complete 12 months' supervised probation and ordered to pay a fine of $250.

Source: https://herit.ag/3rK1ild

StateTexasYear2013NameMargarita Rangel OzunaCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeIllegal "Assistance" At The Polls

Margarita Rangel Ozuna pleaded no contest to illegally assisting Ricardo Liceaga Alonso in voting in 2010. She prepared his ballot without his direction, and then deposited his carrier envelope without providing the proper information on the envelope. Ozuna received a sentence of probation.

Source: bit.ly/2rCmpGt, bit.ly/2rQM9mq

StateTexasYear2012NameChristine Thomas ShankCase TypeDiversion ProgramFraud TypeIllegal "Assistance" At The Polls

Christine Thomas Shank, of Brazos County, pleaded guilty to unlawful assistance at the polls in the 2010 general election. She was sentenced to one year of deferred adjudication. Shank was placed under community supervision and was ordered to complete 20 hours of community service and pay a $500 fine and $332 in court costs. Shank was also barred from offering any future "assistance" to voters.

Source: bit.ly/2rCDVKl

StateMississippiYear2007NameIke BrownCase TypeCivil PenaltyFraud TypeFraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots, Illegal "Assistance" At The Polls

In a civil case filed by the federal government, Ike Brown, former Chairman of the Noxubee County Democratic Executive Committee and Superintendent of Democratic Primary Elections, was found to have violated Section Two of the Voting Rights Act through racially motivated manipulation of ballots. Brown, who started chairing the Commission in 2000, obtained and improperly counted defective absentee ballots, and allowed for improper "assistance" of voters to ensure that white political candidates lost and black candidates won. He was permanently enjoined from engaging in such conduct in the future, and an independent administrator was appointed to ensure compliance.

Source: https://herit.ag/3iOfZzE , https://herit.ag/3i8YZoQ, https://herit.ag/3l6sp8L

StateTennesseeYear2007NameVancey VoorhiesCase TypeDiversion ProgramFraud TypeIllegal "Assistance" At The Polls

Vancey Voorhies, a former volunteer poll worker, entered a pre-trial diversion program after being indicted on four charges: Illegal Registration/Voting, False Entries, Violation by an Official, and Official Misconduct. Voorhies completed and submitted a ballot for her cousin, in violation of state law.

Source: https://herit.ag/3f28Zhq

StateTexasYear2006NameMaria Dora FloresCase TypeDiversion ProgramFraud TypeIllegal "Assistance" At The Polls

Maria Dora Flores pleaded guilty to engaging in illegal "assistance" at the polls during the 2006 Democratic primary election. Prosecutors charged that Flores escorted several voters into their polling locations and then filled out and submitted ballots without their consent. The judge sentenced Flores to a $750 fine and two years of deferred probation. In a statement discussing the case, then Attorney General Greg Abbott remarked that, "Those who perpetrate voter fraud are victimizing and intimidating the elderly. This violates the law and is simply another form of elder abuse."

Source: https://herit.ag/3i8Z0sU, https://herit.ag/3l35ZW8

Key & Definitions

Types of Cases

Criminal Conviction

Any case that results in a defendant entering a plea of guilty or no contest, or being found guilty in court of election-related offenses.

Judicial Finding

A finding by a court of law that fraud occurred in an election, including judicial orders overturning election results or ordering a new election due to fraud.

Civil Penalty

Any civil case resulting in fines or other penalties imposed for a violation of election laws.

Official Finding

A finding by a government body that fraud occurred in an election, including orders overturning election results or ordering a new election due to fraud.

Diversion Program

Any criminal case in which a judge directs a defendant into a pre-trial diversion program, or stays or defers adjudication with the understanding that the conviction will be cleared upon completion of the program.

Types of Voter Fraud

Fraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

Requesting absentee ballots and voting without the knowledge of the actual voter; or obtaining the absentee ballot from a voter and either filling it in directly and forging the voter’s signature or illegally telling the voter who to vote for.

Ineligible Voting

Illegal registration and voting by individuals who are not U.S. citizens, are convicted felons, or are otherwise not eligible to vote.

Impersonation Fraud At The Polls

Voting in the name of other legitimate voters and voters who have died, moved away, or lost their right to vote because they are felons, but remain registered.

Buying Votes

Paying voters to cast either an in-person or absentee ballot for a particular candidate.

Ballot Petition Fraud

Forging the signatures of registered voters on the ballot petitions that must be filed with election officials in some states for a candidate or issue to be listed on the official ballot

Duplicate Voting

Registering in multiple locations and voting in the same election in more than one jurisdiction or state.

False Registrations

Voting under fraudulent voter registrations that either use a phony name and a real or fake address or claim residence in a particular jurisdiction where the registered voter does not actually live and is not entitled to vote.

Altering The Vote Count

Changing the actual vote count either in a precinct or at the central location where votes are counted.

Illegal "Assistance" At The Polls

Forcing or intimidating voters—particularly the elderly, disabled, illiterate, and those for whom English is a second language—to vote for particular candidates while supposedly providing them with “assistance.”