Election Fraud Cases
Victor Aguirre, a convicted felon, was charged by the state with one felony count of falsely registering to vote and one felony count of illegally voting in the 2020 general election. Aguirre pleaded guilty to one felony count of attempted illegal voting and was sentenced to a minimum term of six months in prison with credit for 36 days of time served, to be followed by a period of supervised release, and was assessed fees and fines of $469.
Source: herit.ag/3FDlaxW , herit.ag/3BHTNkP, herit.ag/3FxQP3u
Tracey Kay McKee, of Scottsdale, was indicted by a grand jury on one count of illegal voting and one count of perjury. McKee, a registered Republican, cast a ballot in the name of her deceased mother in the 2020 general election. She pleaded guilty to one count of illegal voting, a felony, was sentenced to two years of probation, and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service, and ordered to pay $2,144 in fines and fees.
Source: https://herit.ag/3HUHrXH, https://herit.ag/3GVHMZ4 , https://herit.ag/3sb2oYw
Guillermina Fuentes was charged with one count of ballot abuse for ballot trafficking during the 2020 primary election. Fuentes was the former mayor of San Luis, is a well-known political figure in her community, and works as a political consultant. Using that influence, Fuentes persuaded voters to allow her to collect their ballots and, in some instances, fill out ballots on behalf of the voters. Fuentes admitted that she "knowingly collect[ed] ballots from another person, and those early ballots belonged to individuals for whom I am not a family member, household member, or caregiver." She pleaded guilty to one count of ballot abuse. She will be sentenced at the end of June.
Source: https://herit.ag/3blsnHe, https://herit.ag/3Ot2nIP, https://herit.ag/3OJy1RV
Marcia Johnson, 70, of Lake Havasu City pleaded guilty to the Class D felony of Voting More Than Once in the November 2018 general election. Johnson cast her own mail-in ballot as well as one sent to her deceased father whose name remained on the voter rolls after his death in 2012. She was sentenced to one year of probation, charged a special assessment of $100, and fined $1,000.
Source: https://herit.ag/3IQEE1n, https://herit.ag/3iPCODu , https://herit.ag/3JW6n21, https://herit.ag/3tVwII2
Alma Yadira Juarez was charged with one count of ballot abuse for ballot trafficking during the 2020 primary election. Juarez was alleged to have collected ballots filled out by Guillermina Fuentes and did not have permission to hold the ballots. She pleaded guilty to one count of ballot abuse. She will be sentenced at the end of June.
Source: https://herit.ag/3bltTZU , https://herit.ag/3OMdjRC
Joseph John Marak, 62, pleaded guilty to one felony count of Submission of a Materially False Voter Registration Application. Marak claimed on his application that he was not a convicted felon when he had been convicted of 18 felony counts and served several years in prison. He admitted to illegally voting in six federal elections since 2016. Marak was sentenced to 30 months of supervised probation and fined $2,400.
Source: https://herit.ag/3DGdrhf , https://herit.ag/3K3LVN2
Krista Michelle Connor, 55, pleaded guilty to one felony count of Attempted Illegal Voting. Connor had signed and cast an early mail-in ballot in the name of her mother, Jeanne Sullivan, who died a month prior to the 2020 general election. She was sentenced to 100 hours of community service and fined $890.
Source: https://herit.ag/3sc3IKT, https://herit.ag/3QQGTqG, https://herit.ag/3sbfo0m
Kimberly Chaouch pleaded no contest to one felony count of registering to vote at the address of former councilmember Jace Dawson despite not living there for the June 2020 Compton City Council run-off election. She was charged with illegally voting for Compton City Councilmember Isaac Galvan, who won that election by one vote. She will be sentenced in May.
Source: https://herit.ag/3BqdRXD, https://herit.ag/3JojWqu
Carlos Antonio De Montenegro (also known as Mark Anthony Gonsalves) was caught in an elaborate scheme to rig the mayoral election in Hawthorne, California. He was accused in a 41-count indictment of submitting (along with others) over 8,000 fraudulent voter registration applications on behalf of homeless people prior to the 2020 election, as well as falsifying names, addresses and signatures on nomination papers for him to run for mayor. Prosecutors allege that the entire operation was funded by the criminal gang MS-13 so that they could Montenegro in an elected position in order to help the gang. De Montenegro pleaded Nolo Contendere to three counts of false registration, registering non-existent voters, and perjury. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail, two years of probation, and 30 days community labor.
Source: herit.ag/3PCuZSM , herit.ag/3Ph3H2X , herit.ag/44Sl3cn
Toni Morris pleaded no contest to one felony count of registering to vote at the address of former councilmember Jace Dawson despite not living there for the June 2020 Compton City Council run-off election. She was charged with illegally voting for Compton City Councilmember Isaac Galvan, who won that election by one vote. She will be sentenced in May.
Source: https://herit.ag/3rSRRl9 , https://herit.ag/3oVoKvM
Barry Reed pleaded no contest to one felony count of registering to vote at the address of former councilmember Jace Dawson despite not living there for the June 2020 Compton City Council run-off election. She was charged with illegally voting for Compton City Councilmember Isaac Galvan, who won that election by one vote. He will be sentenced in May.
Source: https://herit.ag/3Bo6uzW , https://herit.ag/3JBDM1F
The results of the June 2021 Compton City Council run-off election were overturned by Judge Michelle Williams Court after it was determined that four votes cast in the election were submitted by registered voters who did not live in the district the council seat represented. A run-off election between incumbent Isaac Galvan and Andre Spicer was decided by one vote and Galvan was declared the winner. Five people including Galvan have been arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit election fraud. The Superior Court Judge threw out four votes that were found to be cast by voters who did not live in the proper jurisdiction, and Spicer was declared the official winner of the election. All of the individuals charged have already pleaded guilty or no contest to the charges.
Source: https://herit.ag/3Np798W , https://herit.ag/3OK0uqL, https://herit.ag/3QU6ora
Elizabeth Gale of San Diego was charged by the state with four felony counts of fraudulently casting a vote, impersonating a voter, attempting to vote as a fictious person, and personate with a written instrument after casting an absentee ballot on behalf of her deceased mother during the 2021 California Gubernatorial Recall Election. After absentee ballots were sent to all registered Madera County voters, Gale filled out the ballot, forged her mother's signature, and falsely swore as a witness to her mother signing the ballot. Gale pleaded nolo contendere to one felony count of fraudulently casting a vote. She was sentenced to two years’ probation.
Source: https://herit.ag/3QKH06Z, https://herit.ag/3KdLJve
Barry Morphew was charged with one count of forgery and one count of a mail-in ballot offense after submitting a completed absentee ballot on behalf of his missing wife during the 2020 general election in Chaffee County. Morphew told the FBI he submitted the fraudulent ballot because he "wanted Trump to win." He pleaded guilty to one felony charge of forgery and was sentenced to one year of probation. He was also fined and assessed court costs of $600.
Source: https://herit.ag/3dwxSnD, https://herit.ag/3A0olNf
John Mallozzi, former Chair of the Stamford Democratic City Committee, was convicted following a bench trial of 14 counts of second-degree forgery and 14 counts of making false statements in absentee balloting. Mallozzi signed and submitted absentee ballots for individuals he did not know in connection with 2015 elections for spots on the Board of Finance, Board of Education, and Board of Representatives. The conduct involved 31 fraudulent applications and 26 fraudulent ballots. He is awaiting sentencing.
Source: https://herit.ag/3rwegE4v
Charles Barnes was arrested and charged for voting twice in the 2020 presidential election. He voted once in Florida and again in his home state of Connecticut via absentee ballot. Barnes was sentenced to a pretrial diversion program where his charges will be deferred at the end of 18 months if successfully completed. Barnes was also sentenced to 50 hours community service, ordered to attend a civic education program, ordered to pay $52 per month in fees as part of the pretrial diversion program, and fined $400 in court costs.
Source: https://herit.ag/3sgdH1J , https://herit.ag/3sbQIom, https://herit.ag/3scgt8p, https://herit.ag/385LhAH
Devin King was charged by the state with one count of criminal use of personal identification information after fraudulently adding voters’ names and signatures to constitutional amendment ballot petitions. State election officials discovered that King had submitted over 500 forms and contacted law enforcement because the signatures of numerous voters did not match their signatures on file, personal information of voters was wrong, and forms that normally arrived worn looked “pristine.” Officials contacted 10 of the individuals who had supposedly signed the ballot petition forms, all of whom confirmed they had not signed the petitions, nor were they aware that their personal information was being listed on the ballot petition form. Another 10 individuals were deceased. King pleaded guilty to the felony charge and was sentenced to 1 year in prison with credit served for 5 days and fined $1,519 in court costs and fines.
Source: https://herit.ag/3ZoXo1y , https://herit.ag/3GsGG8N , https://herit.ag/3k4AQTH
Jay Ketcik, a registered Republican, was arrested and charged for voting twice in the 2020 general election. He voted once in Florida and again by mail in his home state of Michigan. He was sentenced to a pre-trial diversion program of 18 months, where upon completion his charged will be deferred. Ketcik was also sentenced to 50 hours community service, ordered to attend a civic education program, ordered to pay $52 per month in fees as part of the pretrial diversion program, and order to pay $400 in court costs.
Source: https://herit.ag/3sdbHXX , https://herit.ag/3sbQ9v2, https://herit.ag/385SCQP, https://herit.ag/382XzK9
Dedrick De'ron Baldwin, a convicted felon, was charged by the state with two felony counts of submission of false voter registration information and two felony counts of willfully voting as an unqualified elector, after he voted in the 2020 Democratic Primary and 2020 General Election. He pleaded nolo contendere to all four charges and was sentenced to 364 days in prison on each count, to be served concurrently, with credit for 47 days of time served. Baldwin is already serving a 12-year sentence for manslaughter and aggravated battery. The fraud was discovered following an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement following an eight-month investigation of Alachua County Democrat election supervisor Kim Barton who organized voter registration drives that improperly registered several inmates to vote.
Source: herit.ag/3v3IQ9y , herit.ag/3BK8CU0
Jordan Daniels was charged by the state with one felony count of criminal use of personal identification information after fraudulently adding voters’ names and signatures to constitutional amendment ballot petitions. State election officials discovered that Daniels had submitted over 50 forms and contacted law enforcement because the signatures of numerous voters did not match their signatures on file, personal information of voters was wrong, and forms that normally arrived worn looked “pristine.”. Officials contacted 10 of the individuals who had supposedly signed the ballot petition forms, all of whom confirmed they had not signed the petitions, nor were they aware that their personal information was being listed on the ballot petition form. Another 10 individuals were deceased. Daniels pleaded guilty to the felony charge and was sentenced to 10 months in jail, 14 months of probation, 100 hours of community service, $40 per month in supervision costs, and fined $1,669 in court costs and fines.
Source: https://herit.ag/3XiQOI3 , https://herit.ag/3k38pW7 , https://herit.ag/3ZtMjw7 , https://herit.ag/3k1t7Wq
Marc Crump, a convicted felon, was charged with one felony count of false swearing to register to vote and two felony counts of illegally voting in connection with the August 2020 primary and November 2020 general election. He pleaded guilty to one count of false swearing and one count of illegal voting in exchange for the state dismissing the third count of illegal voting. He was sentenced to 10 months in jail on each count, to be served concurrently, with credit for 5 days of time served, and was assessed $668 in costs and fees.
Source: herit.ag/3hH0H31, herit.ag/3v32VwS , herit.ag/3Wv1pzq
Joan Marie Halstead, a registered Republican, was charged by the state for voting twice in the 2020 general election. She voted once in-person in Florida and then voted again in her home state of New York via absentee ballot. Halstead was sentenced to a pretrial diversion program where her charges will be deferred at the end of 18 months if she successfully completes the program. Halstead was also ordered to perform 50 hours of community service, to attend a civic education program, and to pay $400 in fines and court costs.
Source: https://herit.ag/3CC07Md, https://herit.ag/3R2l2wa
Romona Oliver, of Hillsborough County, a convicted felon, was charged by the state with one felony count of voting by an unqualified voter and one felony count of false swearing after she voted in the 2020 election. She pleaded no contest to the charge of voting by an unqualified voter in exchange for dismissal of the false swearing charge. She was sentenced to timed served and assessed $548 in court costs.
Source: https://herit.ag/3WYkudD , https://herit.ag/3ZkdCJv , https://herit.ag/3Gv1cWy , https://herit.ag/3XhUWrY
William Chase, of Walker County, a convicted felon, was charged with forgery, illegal acts regarding election documents, unlawful acts regarding elector's vote, and duplicate voting after filling out another person's absentee ballot in the January 2021 runoff election. The ballot was mistakenly sent to a P.O. Box at the former address of the registered voter. The voter inquired with the Walker County Elections Office when she did not receive her ballot, but her husband received his ballot. Election officials discovered Chase had submitted the woman’s ballot by forging her signature; Chase’s fingerprints were on the fraudulent ballot. Chase had also already submitted his own ballot in addition to the fraudulent absentee ballot. Chase was convicted by a jury on all counts and sentenced to 25 years, with 15 years to be served in prison and the remaining 10 years to be served on probation. He was also ordered to pay a $50 public defender application fee and "pay a probation supervision fee of $32 per month to the Probation Office and shall pay all fines, costs, restitution, and surcharges at the rate of $132 per month beginning within thirty days of release from custody."
Source: https://herit.ag/3XfVtuo , https://herit.ag/3XoSXCh
Richard Guggenheim was charged by the state with one felony count of illegal voting after voting twice in the 2020 primary election, once in Idaho and again in Florida. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to unsupervised probation, ordered to complete 100 hours of community service within six months, and assessed fees of $1,245,50.
Source: https://herit.ag/41AELbK, https://herit.ag/41xakDa
Charlie Skiles was charged by the state with one felony count of illegal voting and one misdemeanor count of illegal registration after voting in the 2020 General Election. Skiles was ineligible to vote since he was on probation for a prior felony conviction. On election day, Skiles filled out a voter registration form at the polls using Idaho’s same day voter registration law and falsely affirmed he was an eligible voter. Prior to the 2020 election, Skiles, on 4 separate occasions, had attempted to register despite being ineligible, but the attempts were caught and removed by Ada County Election Officials although they failed to notify law enforcement of his actions. Skiles was convicted by a jury on both counts and sentenced to 3 years in prison, which was suspended for 3 years of probation. Skiles was also ordered to pay a $1,500 fine and assessed court costs of $2,082.85.
Source: https://herit.ag/41zJ0nX, https://herit.ag/41yEwxR
James Bartlett was charged by the state in Dearborn County with one felony count each of perjury and fraudulent subscription of another person's name after his involvement in an absentee ballot trafficking scheme during the Lawrenceburg 2019 General Election. Bartlett, a former City of Lawrenceburg employee, worked with co-conspirator Troy Kemper to fill out fraudulent absentee ballot applications and absentee ballots. The fraud was detected by the Election Board because the signatures on the original voter registration forms did not match the signatures on the absentee ballot applications and the absentee ballots, and after contacting 20 voters, learned they did not apply for an absentee ballot or permit Kemper to turn in their ballot. Bartlett pleaded guilty to one felony count of conspiracy of fraudulent subscription and was sentenced to 910 days in prison, which was suspended if he completes one year of probation without violation. He was also ordered to complete 40 hours of community service and fined and assessed court costs of $1,285. Upon completion of his probation, his felony charge will be reduced to a misdemeanor.
Source: herit.ag/3HVQ99l , herit.ag/3HTrl1X , herit.ag/3RXuAdp
Troy Kemper was charged by the state in Dearborn County with one felony count each of perjury and fraudulent subscription of another person's name after his involvement in an absentee ballot trafficking scheme during the Lawrenceburg 2019 General Election. Kemper was charged for his role in submitting fraudulent absentee ballot applications and ballots along with his co-conspirator James Bartlett. The fraud was detected by the Election Board because the signatures on the original voter registration forms did not match the signatures on the absentee ballot applications and absentee ballots, and after contacting 20 voters, learned they did not apply for an absentee ballot or permit Kemper to turn in their ballot. In exchange for agreeing to testify truthfully against James Bartlett and the state dismissing the fraudulent subscription charge, Kemper pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of perjury and was sentenced to 365 days with 363 days suspended, and he was assessed court costs and filing fees of $210.
Source: herit.ag/3XoQ4Rj , herit.ag/3HPWEdK , herit.ag/3HZrrov
Jerry Trabona, former Chief of Police in Amite City, was initially charged by federal authorities with one count of conspiracy to commit vote buying and three counts of vote buying and aiding & abetting after his involvement in a vote-buying scheme during 2016 Tangipahoa Parish primary and general elections. Trabona, who served as Chief of Police from 2005-2020, conspired with Kristian Hart, who served as an Amite City Councilmember since 2016, by soliciting individuals to buy votes for them and other candidates they supported in the Tangipahoa Parish 2016 Open Primary and General Elections. According to the indictment "Hart and Trabona provided individuals who were buying votes for them and individuals selling their votes with sample ballots and lists of candidate numbers for whom the voters should cast their votes." To conceal the purpose of these payments "Trabona had those individuals sign contracts falsely stating that they would not 'make any overture of any kind to any voter or other person of financial award or benefit in exchange for a vote.’" Hart and Trabona had the vote-buyers provide a list of the voter paid, and after receiving the list, would pay the vote-buyer up to $20 for each individual they had paid to vote. Trabona pleaded guilty to a one-count federal superseding indictment of conspiracy to commit vote buying. He is awaiting sentencing.
Source: https://herit.ag/3KgR8lx, https://herit.ag/3AFbDF4, https://herit.ag/3R3msX4
Kristian "Kris" Hart, an Amite City Councilmember, was initially charged by federal authorities with one count of conspiracy to commit vote buying and 2 counts of vote buying and aiding & abetting. Hart conspired with Jerry Trabona, who served as Chief of Police for Amite City from 2005-2020 and sought re-election in 2016, by soliciting individuals to buy votes for them and other candidates they supported in the Tangipahoa Parish 2016 and 2020 Open Primary and General Elections. According to the indictment "Hart and Trabona provided individuals who were buying votes for them and individuals selling their votes with sample ballots and lists of candidate numbers for whom the voters should cast their votes." Hart employed vote buyers to identify individuals who had not yet voted and then take them to the polls to vote and pay them for their vote. In some cases, he transported individuals he paid to vote to and from polling places. Hart and Trabona made the vote-buyers provide a list of the voters they paid, and after receiving the list, would pay the vote-buyer up to $20 for each individual they had paid to vote. Hart pleaded guilty to a one count federal superseding indictment of conspiracy to commit vote buying and three counts of vote buying and aiding & abetting. He is awaiting sentencing.
Source: https://herit.ag/3CszrgO, https://herit.ag/3POPF6W
Trenae Myesha Rainey, 28, pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor counts of making a false statement on an absentee ballot application. During the 2020 general election, Rainey, an employee at an assisted living facility, completed roughly two dozen absentee voter applications, forging individual signatures of residents. She then handed over the ballots to another employee, whom she instructed to send the absentee ballot requests to the county election clerk. Rainey was sentenced to two years' probation, in which the first 45 days would be spent in the county jail.
Source: https://herit.ag/3K0oJzc, https://herit.ag/3DptHCW
Carless Clark, 59, pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of forging a signature on another individual's absentee ballot. In the 2020 general election, Clark signed and returned her grandson's absentee ballot, citing her concern that he would not have enough time to vote in-person on Election Day, which the grandson did. Clark was sentenced to twelve months' probation and nineteen days of community service.
Source: https://herit.ag/3uFWbEt, https://herit.ag/3iRCVi4
Bradley Haugen was charged by the state with one felony count of intentionally making a false or untrue statement on an absentee ballot application. He requested an absentee ballot during the 2020 primary election indicating that he was eligible to vote despite being a convicted felon. Haugen pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to pay $214 in fines and fees. If Haugen successfully completes probation, the conviction will be reduced to a misdemeanor.
Source: https://herit.ag/3rsmFbw, https://herit.ag/3SZ61vB, https://herit.ag/3SYX2Ld
Muse Mohamed was charged with lying to a federal grand jury about his absentee ballot harvesting during the 2020 primary election in Minneapolis. Mohamed knowingly gave false information to a grand jury about his involvement in collecting and filling out absentee ballots on behalf of three individuals. While he claimed to have simply dropped off already filled-out ballots for those three people, the individuals did not know Mohamed and did not ask him to deliver their absentee ballots (one person had voted in-person on election day). He was convicted following a jury trial of two counts of making false statements to a grand jury. He is awaiting sentencing.
Source: https://herit.ag/3AtYuyP, https://herit.ag/3pqywpm, https://herit.ag/3bWQoFr
Zameahia J. Ismail was charged by the state with one felony count of registering to vote in more than one precinct and with one felony count of voting twice in the 2017 Hennepin County election. She registered and voted in-person in two different precincts in Hennepin County. She voted in St. Louis Park where she actually lives and voted a second time in Minneapolis after being encouraged by an acquaintance to vote for Abi Warsame, a Democrat candidate for Minneapolis City Council. Ismail voted in Minneapolis without having to provide any identification because her acquaintance vouched for her identity. In exchange for the state dismissing the double-voting charge, she agreed to plead guilty to the charge of registering in more than one precinct. Ismail was sentenced to a year in prison and ordered to serve 20 days with the remainder stayed pending successful completion of two years of supervised probation. She also assessed fined and fees totaling $78.
Source: herit.ag/3G3qgEO, herit.ag/3v6Q0K8, herit.ag/3WcRLS8 , herit.ag/3I4JATV
Abdihakim A. Essa, of Minneapolis, was accused of intentionally making or signing false certificates when submitting absentee ballots in Hennepin County. Essa, a non-citizen, forged his father's signature as a witness on the ballots. He pleaded guilty to four of the thirteen counts, all state felony offenses. He was sentenced to 180 days in an adult correctional facility; all but 90 days of this sentence was stayed pending successful completion of 2 years of supervised probation. He was also assessed $78 in court costs.
Source: https://herit.ag/3U025ev, https://herit.ag/3TYJwXY
Jill D. Kelley was charged by the state for voting more than once during the same election, felony offense. During the 2020 presidential primary, Jill Kelley voted once in person and once via absentee ballot, both votes cast in Minnesota. She was convicted of the felony charge, and sentenced to 1 year in jail, which was suspended to two years subject to good behavior. She was placed on probation for two years and assessed $289 in fines and fees.
Source: https://herit.ag/3CxWuq3 , https://herit.ag/3fwcFLt, https://herit.ag/3T0Ah9L
James Singletary, of Wake County, was charged by the state for his role in connection with an absentee ballot trafficking scheme to benefit Republican congressional candidate Mark Harris during the 2018 general election. Singletary was charged with conspiracy to commit felonious obstruction of justice, possession of absentee ballot, and conspiracy to commit possession of absentee ballot. Singletary and others were affiliated with Leslie McCrae Dowless, a political operative in Bladen County and a consultant for Harris. Singletary and others unlawfully collected ballots from voters, falsely claimed to have witnessed the voter casting his or her vote, and mailed the ballots in a manner intended to conceal that the voter had not mailed the ballot. Singletary pleaded guilty to a felony charge of conspiracy to possess an absentee ballot and was sentenced to 120 days in the misdemeanor confinement program, which was suspended to 12 months of supervised probation, and ordered to complete 100 hours of community service and pay $393.50 in court costs.
Source: https://herit.ag/3iu2mta
Jessica Dowless, of Wake County, was charged by the state for her role in connection with an absentee ballot trafficking scheme to benefit Republican congressional candidate Mark Harris during the 2018 general election. Dowless was charged with conspiracy to commit felonious obstruction of justice, swearing falsely, and conspiracy to swear falsely. Dowless and others were affiliated with Leslie McCrae Dowless, a political operative in Bladen County and a consultant for Harris. Dowless and others unlawfully collected ballots from voters, falsely claimed to have witnessed the voter casting his or her vote, and then mailed the ballots in a manner intended to conceal that the voter had not mailed the ballot. Dowless pleaded guilty to a felony charge of conspiracy to swear falsely in exchange for dismissal of the other charges and was sentenced to 120 days in the misdemeanor confinement program, which was suspended to 12 months of supervised probation, and ordered to complete 100 hours of community service and pay court costs and fees of $858.50.
Source: https://herit.ag/3jYSbx7
Caitlyn Croom, of Wake County, was changed by the state for her role in connection with an absentee ballot trafficking during the 2016 general election. Croom conspired with Leslie McCrae Dowless, a political operative in Bladen County, to unlawfully collect ballots from voters, falsely claim to have witnessed the voter casting his or her vote, and then mail the ballots in a manner intended to conceal that the voter had not mailed the ballot. Croom was charged with one count each of conspiracy to commit felonious obstruction of justice, possession of absentee ballot, and conspiracy to possess absentee ballot. Croom pleaded guilty to a felony charge of conspiracy to possess absentee ballot in exchange for the dismissal of the other charges. Croom was sentenced to 45 days in the misdemeanor confinement program, which was suspended for 12 months of supervised probation and ordered to complete 100 hours of community service.
Source: https://herit.ag/3GpwtKm
Ginger S. Eason, of Wake County, was charged by the state for her role in connection with an absentee ballot trafficking scheme to benefit Republican congressional candidate Mark Harris during the 2016 general and 2018 primary elections. Eason and others were affiliated with Leslie McCrae Dowless, a political operative in Bladen County and a consultant for Harris. Eason and others would unlawfully collect ballots from voters, falsely claim to have witnessed the voter casting his or her vote, and then mail the ballots in a manner to conceal that the voter had not mailed the ballot. Eason pleaded guilty to three felony charges: conspiracy to commit felonious obstruction of justice, possession of absentee ballot, and conspiracy to commit possession of absentee ballot. Eason was sentenced to 45 days in a misdemeanor confinement program which was suspended to a sentence of 12 months of probation, ordered to complete 100 hours of community service, and assessed fees and costs of $696.
Source: https://herit.ag/3guUl6q
Odalinda Mondragon-Arroyo was charged by the federal government with naturalization fraud, making a false statement in an immigration proceeding, misuse of legal documents, and making a false claim of U.S. citizenship to register to vote. Mondragon-Arroyo, a citizen from Mexico and thus ineligible to vote, admitted the conduct and entered into a pretrial diversion program for 12 months. Her charges were dropped upon completion of the program.
Source: herit.ag/41v0xOX , herit.ag/3RwluV1 , herit.ag/48q6gYl
Tonia M. Gordon, of Wake County, was changed by the state for her role in connection with an absentee ballot trafficking scheme to benefit Republican congressional candidate Mark Harris during the 2016 general and 2018 primary elections. Gordon and others were affiliated with Leslie McCrae Dowless, a political operative in Bladen County and a consultant for Harris. Eason and others would unlawfully collect ballots from voters, falsely claim to have witnessed the voter casting his or her vote, and then mail the ballots in a manner to conceal that the voter had not mailed the ballot. Gordon pleaded guilty to three felony charges: conspiracy to commit felonious obstruction of justice, possession of absentee ballot, and conspiracy to commit possession of absentee ballot. Gordon was sentenced to 120 days in a misdemeanor confinement program which was suspended to a sentence of 12 months of probation, ordered to complete 100 hours of community service, and assessed fees and costs of $956.
Source: https://herit.ag/3ViDNgB
Gessyca Eyene Jeaspautine Missie was charged by the federal government with naturalization fraud; fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents; and making a false statement in an immigration proceeding, all in connection with submitting a false voter registration application in which he claimed to be a US citizen. Missie, an alien from the Congo, admitted the conduct and entered into a diversion agreement for 12 months. The charges were dropped upon completion of the program.
Source: herit.ag/3TN1cct , herit.ag/3RNsyfY
Rebecca D. Thompson, of Wake County, was charged by the state for her role in connection with an absentee ballot trafficking scheme to benefit Republican congressional candidate Mark Harris during the 2016 general and 2018 primary elections. Gordon and others were affiliated with Leslie McCrae Dowless, a political operative in Bladen County and a consultant for Harris. Thompson and others would unlawfully collect ballots from voters, falsely claim to have witnessed the voter casting his or her vote, and then mail the ballots in a manner to conceal that the voter had not mailed the ballot. Gordon pleaded guilty to three felony charges: conspiracy to commit felonious obstruction of justice, possession of absentee ballot, and conspiracy to commit possession of absentee ballot. Thompson was sentenced to 45 days in a misdemeanor confinement program which was suspended to a sentence of 12 months of probation, ordered to complete 100 hours of community service, and assessed fees and costs of $643.50.
Source: https://herit.ag/3TYJwHs
Kelly Hendrix, of Wake County, was charged by the state for her role in connection with an absentee ballot trafficking scheme to benefit Republican congressional candidate Mark Harris during the 2016 general and 2018 primary elections. Hendrix and others were affiliated with Leslie McCrae Dowless, a political operative in Bladen County and a consultant for Harris. Hendrix and others would unlawfully collect ballots from voters, falsely claim to have witnessed the voter casting his or her vote, and then mail the ballots in a manner to conceal that the voter had not mailed the ballot. Hendrix pleaded guilty to one felony count of possession of absentee ballot. Hendrix was sentenced to 45 days in a misdemeanor confinement program which was suspended to a sentence of 12 months of probation, ordered to complete 100 hours of community service, and assessed fees and costs of $793.50.
Source: https://herit.ag/3TZLIhX, https://herit.ag/3VnCsW1
Todd Krysiak was charged by the state in Belknap County, with voting in more than one state, a felony, during the 2016 general election. Krysiak voted in person in Alton, NH, where he resides, and again in person in Leominster, MA, where he formerly lived and where he was still registered to vote. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 90 days in jail, suspended for two years on the condition of good behavior, and his right to vote in New Hampshire was terminated. He was fined $4,000 and ordered to pay a penalty of $960.
Source: herit.ag/3LoAKS2, herit.ag/3Nasp5D
Edward Amirault, 79, pleaded guilty to the Class B felony of "Voting in More than One State Prohibited." Amirault had voted in the 2018 general election in New Hampshire by absentee ballot and then cast another ballot in the same election in-person in Massachusetts. He was sentenced to 180 days in jail, all of which were suspended on the condition of two years of good behavior. Amirault was also ordered to pay a fine of $4,000 and a penalty assessment of $960 and was ordered to serve 100 hours of community service.
Source: https://herit.ag/3scKvZw , https://herit.ag/3s7Pnz9
Sigmund Boganski was charged by the state after voting twice in the 2016 General Election. He voted by absentee ballot in Arizona and again in-person in New Hampshire. Boganski pleaded guilty to one count of voting in more than one state. He was sentenced to 90 days in the House of Corrections, which was suspended for two years on the condition of good behavior. He was also fined $1,000 and assessed a $240 penalty. Boganski’s right to vote in New Hampshire was terminated.
Source: https://herit.ag/3CzgokL
Frederick Gattuso, former Carteret Republican mayoral candidate, was charged with one count of fraudulent voting for voting twice during the November 2020 presidential election as different people with similar names. Gattuso pleaded guilty to one count of tampering with public records and was sentenced to one year of probation.
Source: https://herit.ag/3CgCA39
Kimberly McPherson, a city of Troy council member and Republican, pleaded guilty to one count of identity theft for casting absentee ballots in the names of two other people in the 2021 city council election. In seeking re-election, McPherson cast at least one absentee ballot on behalf of another during the primary election, and during the general election cast absentee ballots for at least two people other than herself. As part of her plea agreement, McPherson has agreed to resign her position on the city council. She faces up to 5 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 when she is sentenced.
Source: https://herit.ag/3OObF1U , https://herit.ag/3QRV7HP
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
Former U.S. Congressman Michael "Ozzie" Myers was charged with over 13 felonies for his role in orchestrating a scheme to stuff ballot boxes in favor of Democrat candidates he either favored or represented as a consultant. Myers, a former Democrat congressman who was ousted from office and served time in prison on charges of bribery and corruption due to his involvement in the Abscam sting, orchestrated schemes in Philadelphia's 39th Ward, the 36th and 2nd Divisions, to commit ballot fraud. He conspired with Domenick Demuro and Marie Beren, Judges of Elections for each ward by bribing them to add additional fraudulent votes to voting machines for candidates Myers represented or supported as a political consultant. This scheme occurred during elections between 2014-2018. He pleaded guilty to charges of depriving persons of civil rights, bribery, falsification of voting records, and conspiring to illegally vote in a federal election. If his plea deal is accepted by the judge he faces up to 60 years in prison and over $1 million in fines. He will be sentenced in September.
Source: https://herit.ag/3QUaOys, https://herit.ag/3OPOmEV, https://herit.ag/3OHSA18
Francis Presto of South Park, a registered Republican, requested and cast an absentee ballot on behalf of his deceased wife. He was charged with felonies for interfering with an election and unlawful use of a computer and a misdemeanor charge for forging a ballot. He was sentenced to a diversion program of 2 years and ordered to complete 250 hours of community service. His charges will be dropped upon completion of the terms of his diversion program.
Source: https://herit.ag/3ONL8BN, https://herit.ag/3P2FQT9, https://herit.ag/3OM1RoO
Rasheen Crews was charged by the state in Philadelphia County with two felony counts of criminal solicitation to commit forgery and theft by failure to make a required disposition of funds received after engaging in a ballot petition signature scheme. Crews, a political consultant in Philadelphia, perpetrated a ballot petition fraud scheme to get his clients listed on the ballot for the May 2019 Democratic primary races. Crews and his employees, acting at his direction, forged thousands of signatures in an effort to obtain the required number of legal signatures needed for his clients to be listed on the ballot. In addition to forging signatures by hand, over 1,000 signatures were photocopied rather than hand-written. Crews pleaded guilty to the two felony counts, was sentenced to 5 years of probation, assessed fines and fees of $761.25, and barred from participating in political campaigns during his probation.
Source: https://herit.ag/49L7bUU , https://herit.ag/46pxHjM , https://herit.ag/49Q0e4P , https://herit.ag/415bsPf
Cheryl Mihaliak was charged by the state in Lancaster County with two counts of forging and destroying ballots after filling out and submitting an absentee ballot on behalf of her deceased mother during the May 2022 primary election. Mihaliak had requested an absentee ballot for her and her mother (Teresa Mihaliak), as her caregiver, but her mother died on April 14 before she could fill out the ballot. However, the county board of elections received a ballot for the mother completed by her daughter on April 28. Mihaliak pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of forging and destroying ballots and was sentenced to 2 years of probation, assessed $1,610.75 in fines and fees, and is barred from voting for 4 years.
Source: https://herit.ag/46vmWwi , https://herit.ag/3MWw8mt , https://herit.ag/3GhgU7H
Melissa Fisher was charged with a misdemeanor count of violating absentee and mail-in ballot provisions after signing and submitting an absentee ballot on behalf of her deceased mother during the 2020 general election in Quakertown. She pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge and two unrelated theft charges and was sentenced to 3 to 23 months in prison and 3 years’ probation.
Source: https://herit.ag/3A4ZlUV
Robert Nickerson was charged by the state in Newport County with two felony counts of mail-ballot fraud for voting twice in the 2020 General Election after receiving a tip from a Florida election official. Nickerson voted by absentee ballot in Rhode Island, where he registered to vote in 1996, and again by absentee ballot in Florida, where he registered to vote in 2020. He pleaded no contest to the charges in exchange for no jail time. He was ordered to pay a $500 fine and was assessed $1,103.25 in fees and court costs.
Source: https://herit.ag/41BIuFQ, https://herit.ag/41D4HUe
Richard Garrett, a former Clarksville City Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem, pled guilty to a state felony charge of voter registration fraud for providing a false address as his primary residence, when, in fact, he lived and voted outside the district that he represented. He was sentenced to probation for two years and assessed $1,719 in fines and fees.
Source: https://herit.ag/3CwYjn5
Francisco Tamez Jr., a convicted felon who was ineligible to vote, was charged by the state with illegally voting in the 2017 City of Edinburg municipal election, a felony offense. Tamez pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 2 years’ imprisonment, with credit given for 226 days already spent in jail.
Source: https://herit.ag/3TXhaxm, https://herit.ag/3ACajSY, https://herit.ag/3TUh7SJ
Monica Mendez was charged with 26 felonies after her involvement in an absentee ballot trafficking scheme to alter the results of the May 2018 Bloomington water board election. Mendez served as a volunteer deputy registrar and was responsible for registering new voters in her official role. During this election, 275 people in Bloomington registered to vote all using the same post office box as a mailing address. However, the address was associated with a subsidized housing company who was attempting the sway the outcome of the election. According to the press release by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton "Mendez ran a vote-harvesting operation on behalf of a subsidized housing corporation in order to influence the outcome of a utility board election." Mendez Mendez pleaded guilty to 26 felony counts including three counts of illegal voting, eight counts of election fraud, seven counts of unlawful assistance to a voter to submit a ballot by mail, and eight counts of unlawful possession of a mail ballot. She was sentenced to five years of deferred adjudication probation, 80 hours of community service, and fined $1,415.
Source: https://herit.ag/3OMoYQ8 , https://herit.ag/3bxUROc, https://herit.ag/3OHfLsv
Marlena Jackson, wife of Gregg County Commissioner Shannon Brown, pleaded guilty to charges of misdemeanor election fraud. During the 2018 Democratic primary Longview City council election, Jackson's husband Shannon Brown organized a scheme to harvest absentee ballots with help from two paid campaign workers and Jackson to increase the ballots in Brown's favor. Jackson working with Brown and his crew, solicited over a hundred mail-in ballots by assisting with absentee ballot applications, misleading voters about the requirements for voting by mail, and in some cases filling out the applications and falsely claiming that such voters were disabled, often without their knowledge or consent. Marlena was originally charged with close to 100 different felony charges including providing false information on a voting application, election fraud, and tampering with a government record with the intent to defraud or harm. Jackson was sentenced to a year's probation and a $2,445 fine.
Source: https://herit.ag/33qzzOJ, https://herit.ag/3oSoH3O , https://herit.ag/3rRxrc7, https://herit.ag/3GVHG3E
Charlie Burns Jr., campaign worker for Gregg County Commissioner Shannon Brown, pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of knowingly possessing an absentee ballot with intent to defraud for his involvement in a ballot harvesting scheme. During the 2018 Democratic primary Longview City council election, Shannon Brown participated in a scheme to harvest absentee ballots with help from his wife Marlena Jackson, Burns, and DeWayne Ward, another paid campaign worker, to increase the vote total for Brown. Burns working with Brown, Jackson, and another campaign worker, solicited over a hundred mail-in ballots by assisting with absentee ballot applications, providing incorrect information to voters about the requirements for voting by mail, and in some cases filing out the ballots and falsely claiming that such voters were disabled, often without their knowledge or consent. Burns was sentenced to one year in jail, which was suspended to a year's probation, and fined $445.
Source: https://herit.ag/3gSxiyS , https://herit.ag/3oSxz9F, https://herit.ag/3rUront, https://herit.ag/3GNZihK
DeWayne Ward, campaign worker for Gregg County Commissioner Shannon Brown, pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of knowingly possessing an absentee ballot with intent to defraud for his involvement in a ballot harvesting scheme during the 2018 Longview City Council Democratic primary election. During that election, Shannon Brown organized a scheme to harvest absentee ballots with help from his wife, Marlena Jackson, Ward, and Charlie Burns Jr. another paid campaign worker, to increase the vote tally in Brown's favor. Ward, working with Brown, Jackson, and another campaign worker, solicited over a hundred mail-in ballots by assisting with absentee ballot applications, misleading voters about the requirements for voting by mail, and in some cases filling out the applications and falsely claiming that such voters were disabled, often without their knowledge or consent. Ward was sentenced to one year in jail, which was suspended to a year's probation, and fined $445.
Source: https://herit.ag/3HXp7gz, https://herit.ag/3LBeQZV , https://herit.ag/3sMrGf3, https://herit.ag/3uSSbSK
Lawrence Klug, was charged with one felony count of providing false information to an election official for casting a vote while not residing in Fond du Lac County during the 2020 general election. He used the address of a UPS Store for his voter registration. He was convicted of one misdemeanor charge of falsifying voter registration and fined $500 in court costs.
Source: https://herit.ag/3SV6oIC
Mary Gebert, clerk for the town of Bergen in Marathon County, Wisconsin, was charged with one felony count of misconduct in public office, one felony count of election official destroying poll list, and one misdemeanor count of resisting or obstructing an officer during the 2020 General Election. Following the election, poll workers were unable to find one of the voter numbers, which they needed to match for accuracy. Gebert signed a random person's name without their knowledge to allegedly resolve the discrepancy. However, the person had moved out of Bergen and had voted in his or her new jurisdiction. Gebert pleaded guilty to one felony count of election official destroying poll list in exchange for dismissal of the other charges and was sentenced to two years of probation, fined $1,000, assessed $788 in court costs, and ordered not to participate in the administration or polling of any election.
Source: https://herit.ag/3tcPPPX, https://herit.ag/46qeQFS
Michael Ray Overall was charged by the state in St. Croix County with illegal voting, election registration fraud, registering to vote in more than one place, and voting more than once, all felonies, after voting twice in the 2020 General Election. He voted once in person in Beloit, a town in Rock County, and again by absentee ballot in St. Croix County. He was found guilty by a jury of all the charges and ordered to pay a penalty of $4,711.90 plus post-judgment interest and engage in 80 hours of community service.
Source: https://herit.ag/3EYuqfY, https://herit.ag/3RIR6IF
Jed Dietenberger was charged by the state with one felony count of illegal voting during a mayoral election and the 2020 presidential primary election. He was accused of registering and voting despite being a convicted felon, and therefore ineligible. Dietenberger pleaded no contest, and was adjudicated guilty, to the charge, and was ordered to pay $815 in fines and court costs.
Source: https://herit.ag/3rxM1Ve, https://herit.ag/3e4QprI
Donald Holz of Fond du Lac was charged with one felony count of illegal voting after he voted in the 2020 general election despite having a prior felony conviction, which prohibited him from participating in elections. He pleaded no contest to the charge and was sentenced to 10 days in jail, fined $500, and ordered to pay court costs.
Source: https://herit.ag/3c7CZu1
Jeffrey Testroete was charged by the state in Fond du Lac County with one misdemeanor count of election fraud-falsifying voter registration after registering a UPS store as his residential address during the 2020 General Election. Testroete entered into a pretrial diversion program for three months and his charges will be dismissed if he successfully completes the program.
Source: https://herit.ag/3F2daq6, https://herit.ag/3ZUuKWR
Christine Daikawa was charged with absentee ballot fraud (a misdemeanor) and attempting to impersonate an elector (a felony) after submitting her dead partner's ballot during the 2020 general election. Daikawa pleaded no contest, and was adjudicated guilty, to both charges and was sentenced to 30 days for the misdemeanor charge and 60 days for the felony which will be served consecutively and ordered to pay $961 in court costs.
Source: https://herit.ag/3RCOetk, https://herit.ag/3Cy05EF
Carter was charged by the state in Fond du Lac County with one felony count of election fraud registration and one misdemeanor count of falsifying voter registration after registering a UPS store as his residential address during the 2020 General Election. Carter entered into a pretrial diversion program for two months and his charges will be dismissed if he successfully completes the program.
Source: https://herit.ag/3LMgFVA, https://herit.ag/3QkURmo
Sam Wells was charged by the state with one felony count of election fraud registration after registering a P.O. Box in Fond du Lac County as his residential address, despite not living in that county during the 2020 General Election. He pleaded no contest to one misdemeanor count of falsifying voter registration after the district attorney reduced the charge. Wells was assessed fines and court costs of $831.
Source: https://herit.ag/3X3tq1y , https://herit.ag/3XcJqhC
Jamie Wells was charged by the state with one felony count of election fraud registration after registering a P.O. Box in Fond du Lac County as her residential address, despite not living in that county during the 2020 General Election. She pleaded no contest to one misdemeanor count of falsifying voter registration after the district attorney reduced the charge. Wells was assessed a fine of $300 plus court costs.
Source: https://herit.ag/3GPD5SH, https://herit.ag/3XnvcdN
Kathryn Nestor, of Vienna, was charged with one count of false swearing after signing the names of other registered voters on a mayoral nomination petition during the 2020 Vienna municipal election. Nestor pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor charge and was sentenced to ten days in jail which was suspended, 6 months of probation, and fined $50.
Source: https://herit.ag/3VjqmNz
