Election Fraud Cases

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StateColoradoYear2022NameBarry MorphewCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots, Impersonation Fraud At The Polls

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

StateColoradoYear2021NameJan (Wilson) CummerCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeDuplicate Voting

Following a bench trial, Jan Wilson was convicted of voting twice by absentee ballot in the Nov. 3, 2020 general election, a misdemeanor offense. Wilson was ordered to pay a $500 fine plus court costs.

Source: https://herit.ag/3f22rzg

StateColoradoYear2018NameNathan ParksCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeDuplicate Voting

Nathan Parks pleaded guilty to voting in both Colorado and Washington in the 2016 election. Parks resided and voted in Washington during the November election, but also maintained his Colorado voter registration and used it to cast an absentee ballot there. After pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge, Parks was given a 12-month deferred sentence, and was ordered to complete 30 hours of community service and pay courts costs and restitution fees.

Source: https://herit.ag/3BMwvsM, https://herit.ag/3iTTB83

StateColoradoYear2017NameAngelo Felix AbadCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeBallot Petition Fraud

Angelo Felix Abad forged at least one signature while circulating petitions to place a minimum wage increase on the 2016 ballot. He ultimately pleaded guilty to one count of felony forgery. He now faces a maximum possible sentence of up to six years' imprisonment, and was sentenced on April 7, 2017.

Source: https://herit.ag/3j9Za2v, bit.ly/2tMg8v4

StateColoradoYear2017NameSarilu Sosa-SanchezCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots, Duplicate Voting, Impersonation Fraud At The Polls

Sarilu Sosa-Sanchez voted twice in the 2013 election, once in her own name and once in the name of her late mother. Sosa-Sanchez pleaded guilty to a felony forgery charge after admitting she forged her late mother's signature on a ballot. Sh also pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor double voting charge. Sosa-Sanchez was sentenced to 60 hours of community service, was ordered to pay restitution and court fees, and will help the clerk and recorder's office educate other residents about the consequences of voter fraud.

Source: https://herit.ag/3nR7Tuo, https://herit.ag/2ZjLpIh, https://herit.ag/3kpHOAr

StateColoradoYear2017NameMaureen Marie MossCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeBallot Petition Fraud

While working for Black Diamond Outreach, a Denver-based community outreach organization, Maureen Marie Moss forged 34 signatures on petitions she was circulating to get U.S. Senate candidate Jon Keyser on the ballot for the June 2016 primary. Moss ultimately pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to four years' probation on each count. She was also ordered to complete 250 hours of community service.

Source: https://herit.ag/371lOV5, https://herit.ag/3BIegol, https://herit.ag/3f1DZyg

StateColoradoYear2017NameSteven CurtisCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

Steven Curtis, the former head of the Colorado Republican Party, was charged with a misdemeanor election mail-in ballot offense, as well as one count of forgery of a public record. It was revealed through handwriting analysis that Curtis forged his ex-wife's name on her ballot and mailed it in. He was found guilty and sentenced to four years probation and 300 hours of community service.

Source: https://herit.ag/2UV4aj5, https://herit.ag/3ArntjL

StateColoradoYear2017NameToni Lee NewbillCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

Toni Lee Newbill pleaded guilty to voting twice using her deceased father's name to do so, once in the 2013 general election and again in the Republican primary of 2016. Newbill was sentenced to 18 months of unsupervised probation and 30 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay a $500 fine and additional court fees.

Source: dpo.st/2owWxOA, bit.ly/2q8FKBj, bit.ly/2pjbYHd

StateColoradoYear2016NameElsadig Saeed MerghaniCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeBallot Petition Fraud

Elsadig Saeed Merghani pleaded guilty in 2016 to forging signatures on a petition to get two anti-fracking initiatives on the ballot in the 2016 general election. Merghani submitted at least three signatures that were marked as questionable upon review. The environmentalist-backed ballot measures ultimately did not garner sufficient signatures to qualify for the ballot.

Source: https://herit.ag/3zu29IW, https://herit.ag/3nPwCip

StateColoradoYear2015NameVitaliy B. GrabchenkoCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFalse Registrations

Grabchenko pleaded guilty to procuring a false registration (by providing a false registration to vote), a misdemeanor. He was given a two-year deferred sentence with two years of supervised probation, and was ordered to complete 48 hours of community service.

Source: https://herit.ag/3x2htLO, https://herit.ag/3CvcypW

StateColoradoYear2014NameCarol HannahCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeDuplicate Voting

Carol Hannah, was registered to vote in Mohave County, Arizona, and Adams County, Colorado, and was convicted of voter fraud for voting in both states during the 2010 election. Hannah's double voting was detected by the Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck Program, a system in which Arizona shares voter data with at least 20 other states. She was convicted and sentenced to three years' supervised probation and $1,000 in fines.

Source: https://herit.ag/3kYe7qN, https://herit.ag/3x5Rhjd

StateColoradoYear2012NameBrittany CurtisCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

In 2012, Brittany Curtis pleaded guilty to attempting to influence a public servant when she forged signatures and voter information on a ballot petition. She was given a deferred sentence of two years and fined $1,653.50.

Source: https://herit.ag/3zpVK1z, https://herit.ag/3i8MVnk

StateColoradoYear2011NameDavid Harold ShackleyCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeDuplicate Voting

Following a jury trial, a Colorado man was found guilty of voting twice, a misdemeanor, in county elections in 2008 and 2009. Shackley voted early in one county, and then by mail in another. Despite having been warned against voting multiple times after the 2008 election, he did so again in 2009.

Source: https://herit.ag/3Arxi14, https://herit.ag/3y7GZ3G

StateColoradoYear2007NameJohn McCarthyCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFalse Registrations

In 2004, John McCarthy was hired by Choose 2 Vote (a campaign finance company) to register new voters. In 2007, he pleaded guilty to producing false voter registration applications. He was sentenced to three years in jail.

Source: https://herit.ag/39mNSmM

StateColoradoYear2006NameWinston KeyesCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

Winston Keyes, of Denver, Colorado, pleaded guilty to voting twice in the 2005 general election. He forged his mother's signature on her absentee ballot, despite the fact that his mother had died in July of that year. He was sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay court costs.

Source: https://herit.ag/3zFecnl, https://herit.ag/3ybqFyJ

StateColoradoYear2005NameAjmal ShahCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeIneligible Voting

Ajmal Shah was convicted in 2005 on two counts of voter fraud after Shah attempted to register to vote by providing fabricated information regarding U.S. citizenship. Shah was sentenced to time served, in addition to one year of supervised release for the first count and three years of supervised release for the second count, to be served concurrently, and fined $200 in fees.

Source: https://herit.ag/3BKpp7T

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.”