Election Fraud Cases

Refining Filters +

Refine by State

Refine by Disposition Year

Refine by Type of case

Refine by Type of fraud

StateMississippiYear2021NameJune 2020 Aberdeen First Ward Alderman…Case TypeJudicial FindingFraud TypeElection Overturned

Judge Jeff Weill overturned the results of the June 2020 First Ward Alderman Democratic primary election in Aberdeen, Mississippi, due to absentee ballot fraud, and has ordered a new election. Nicholas Holliday was declared the winner of the June primary by a margin of 37 votes over Robert Devaull. After Devaull filed a lawsuit challenging the results of the race, the Monroe County District court found that 66 of the 84 absentee ballots cast should not have been counted because they were not valid. A notary, Dallas Jones, was arrested for election fraud for notarizing ballots without watching voters sign ballots or checking their identification. In addition to the absentee ballot fraud, the court found evidence of intimidation at the polls by various public officials, including Mayor Maurice Howard, candidate Holliday, and Aberdeen Police Chief Henry Randle, which constituted violations of anti-electioneering rules at polling places.

Source: https://herit.ag/3idftfH , https://herit.ag/3BPBXeb, https://herit.ag/3iM4ubO

StateMississippiYear2019NameCary JohnsonCase TypeDiversion ProgramFraud TypeBuying Votes

Cary Johnson, the former Canton Fire Chief, bought votes using money and beer in his 2017 race for fire chief. Johnson was indicted on three counts of voter fraud, but as part of a plea deal, he plead guilty to one count and was admitted to a pre-trial diversion program. Johnson was given one year to complete the program in order to avoid a felony conviction.

Source: https://herit.ag/2WrcPKJ , https://herit.ag/3f42Z7T

StateMississippiYear2019NameJennifer RobinsonCase TypeDiversion ProgramFraud TypeFalse Registrations, Ineligible Voting

Jennifer Robinson, of Canton, falsely registered for an absentee ballot and then voted in 2017 municipal elections. She was charged with multiple counts of voter fraud and voting by an unqualified person for voting in a precinct in which she no longer resided. As part of a plea deal, she was admitted to a pre-trial diversion program.

Source: https://herit.ag/3rEwFh5 , https://herit.ag/3y4jzfo

StateMississippiYear2019NameAndrew GrantCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeBuying Votes

Andrew Grant, a city alderman in Canton, tried to buy at least one person's vote in the 2017 municipal election in which he was running. Grant was charged with four counts of voter fraud and two counts of conspiracy to commit voter. Grant pleaded guilty to one conspiracy charge. He was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, which was suspended, and he resigned from office.

Source: https://herit.ag/3vKm2v4, https://herit.ag/3xiBI8h

StateMississippiYear2019NameValerie SmithCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeMiscellaneous

Valerie Smith, a former Canton city clerk, falsely attested to witnessing voters swear their applications before her. Smith was charged with 15 felony counts, and pleaded guilty to a charge that she violated voter registration statutes. She was sentenced to a year of probation and ordered to pay a fine and cover the costs of the investigation.

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

StateMississippiYear2019NameDonnell RobinsonCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeIneligible Voting

Donnell Robinson, of Canton, illegally reigistered and voted despite being ineligible due to prior criminal convictions. Robinson pleaded guilty to a charge of misdemeanor voter fraud. He was sentenced to one year in county jail, which was suspended, placed on six months' probation, and ordered to pay a $250 fine.

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

StateMississippiYear2018NameCory Ferreaz Case TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFalse Registrations

Cory Ferreaz, of Hattiesburg, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of illegally voting outside his legal district. Ferreaz sought to run for state representative for District 102 in 2017. To run, he filed paperwork attesting to having been a resident of Hattiesburg, part of Forrest County, for two years. However, Ferreaz admitted to voting in Lowndes County in 2015 despite not residing there. He was given a six month suspended sentence, and was ordered to pay court costs, a $200 fine, and a $200 assessment to the Crime Victims Compensation Fund.

Source: https://herit.ag/3pFEzb8

StateMississippiYear2015NameRhonda Wilhite DowdyCase TypeDiversion ProgramFraud TypeFalse Registrations

While serving as a deputy circuit clerk, Rhonda Dowdy changed the address of a non-resident to an in-county address so that the individual could vote in a local election in which Dowdy's uncle was a candidate for sheriff. In exchange for manipulating voter records, Dowdy received a pledge that the voter would vote for a particular candidate. Dowdy resigned from her post and pleaded guilty to a criminal information charge.

Source: https://herit.ag/2Wg86LF, https://herit.ag/3fl9vaL

StateMississippiYear2015NameMack Charles West, Jr.Case TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFalse Registrations

Mack Charles West, Jr. pleaded guilty to misdemeanor voting out of district of legal domicile in the 2013 mayoral race in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. When West was arrested on January 28, 2015, he was on probation on a felony shoplifting charge. The voting fraud charge violated that probation, and West was booked into jail. On March 12, 2015, in Forrest County Circuit Court, West received a suspended sentence of six months and was fined $200 and ordered to pay $220.84 in court costs.

Source: hatne.ws/2u7bmt6

StateMississippiYear2015NameMamie JohnsonCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFalse Registrations

Mamie Johnson pleaded guilty to voting out of district of legal domicile for the 2013 Hattiesburg mayoral election. Johnson received a suspended sentence of six months and was ordered to pay a $200 fine and $220.84 in court costs.

Source: https://herit.ag/3BOo0x6

StateMississippiYear2014NameAlethea Michelle Shaw, Carmon Yvette…Case TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFalse Registrations

Alethea Michelle Shaw, Carmon Yvette Anderson, and Joseph Lee Anderson each pleaded guilty to voting out of district of legal domicile. Shaw voted in a general election on June 4, 2013, in Hattiesburg even though her legal residence was outside Hattiesburg city limits. Carmon Yvette Anderson and Joseph Lee Anderson voted in a special election on September 24, 2013. Their legal residence was in Moselle, also outside of Hattiesburg. They each received a suspended sentence of six months, were fined $200, and ordered to pay $220.84 in court costs.

Source: https://herit.ag/3y7VAvO

StateMississippiYear2014NameCobby WilliamsCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeIneligible Voting

Cobby Williams pleaded guilty to voter fraud charges in connection with misconduct surrounding the 2013 City of Canton elections. Williams went to the home of Pamela Walker with the intent to register her to vote for the election, and insisted that she fill out a registration form even after she informed him that she was a convicted felon and ineligible to vote. Williams then submitted these completed forms to the county clerk's office. Williams was sentenced to a five-year suspended term, during which time he will be on supervised probation.

Source: https://herit.ag/3eYmLl5

StateMississippiYear2013NameKimberly ReadusCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeAltering The Vote Count

In 2013, Kimberly Readus, an Executive Committee member of the Canton City Elections, was convicted of stealing a ballot box. She was fined $950, sentenced to 30 days of jail time suspended, and placed on probation.

Source: https://herit.ag/3y7VBzS , https://herit.ag/3zH52GZ

StateMississippiYear2011NameTerrance WattsCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeIneligible Voting, Fraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

Terrance Watts, a convicted felon and therefore ineligible to vote, pleaded guilty to two counts of voter fraud for swearing in an affidavit on an absentee ballot that he was eligible to vote in Madison County and for voting in two elections. He was sentenced to two consecutive five-year prison terms.

Source: https://herit.ag/2UTbXy0

StateMississippiYear2011NameLessadolla SowersCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

NAACP official Lessadolla Sowers was convicted on 10 counts of fraudulently casting absentee ballots for voting in the names of 10 people, four of them deceased. She received a five-year sentence for each count, to be served concurrently.

Source: https://herit.ag/376jAn8

StateMississippiYear2010NameJames Lester ThompsonCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeIneligible Voting

James Lester Thompson of Madison County, Mississippi pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor offense of voting by an unqualified person. He was sentenced to perform 100 hours of community service and six months' unsupervised probation.

Source: https://herit.ag/3x8Kohp

StateMississippiYear2010NameKenny Ray Bowen and Billy StreetCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeBuying Votes

Kenny Ray Bowen and Billy Street both pleaded guilty to two counts of voter fraud in connection with their involvement in a vote-buying scheme surrounding the 2007 Benton County election. They were the last of 16 individuals who either pleaded guilty or were found guilty of voter fraud in an elaborate electioneering operation. Both men were sentenced to five years, with four-and-a-half years suspended, six months to serve under house arrest, and four-and-a-half years under post-release supervision. Bowen and Street were also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine to the Crime Victim's Compensation Fund.

Source: https://herit.ag/3l3BSxt, https://herit.ag/3xbrEh0

StateMississippiYear2010NameJasper Buggs, Sr., James Bullock, and…Case TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeBuying Votes

Jasper Buggs, Sr., James Bullock, and Ronnie Wilkerson pleaded guilty to voter fraud charges in connection with their involvement in a vote-buying scheme surrounding the 2007 Benton County election. Buggs pleaded guilty to two counts of voter fraud, Bullock pleaded guilty to five counts of voter fraud, and Wilkerson pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit voter fraud. All three men were sentenced to five years, with four years suspended and one year to serve under house arrest on each count, all the counts to run concurrently. They were also sentenced to four years of post-release supervision and were ordered to pay a $1,000 fine to the Crime Victim's Compensation Fund.

Source: https://herit.ag/3zMygV3 , https://herit.ag/2VbUjFu

StateMississippiYear2010NameJerry Huck Childers, Cooper Epps, David…Case TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeBuying Votes

Jerry Huck Childers, Cooper Epps, David Massey, Arnold Rooker, Sr., and Stanley Maurice Warren all pleaded guilty to voter fraud charges in connection with their involvement in a vote-buying scheme surrounding the 2007 Benton County election. They were part of ring of 16 individuals who either pleaded guilty or were found guilty of voter fraud in an elaborate electioneering operation.

Source: https://herit.ag/3rBsVgh , https://herit.ag/2TBA9US , https://herit.ag/3f22pr8

StateMississippiYear2010NameTate King, Henry Massey, and Lillie…Case TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeBuying Votes

Benton County supervisor Tate King was convicted of committing voter fraud after he paid people to vote for him in the 2007 primary and runoff elections. Eleven others who were also under investigation in connection with this matter have also either pleaded guilty or been convicted. He was sentenced to one year in prison, two years on house arrest, and two years of supervised release, in addition to a $5,000 fine. Norton received three years' supervised probation, and Massey received one year of house arrest and two years of supervised release.

Source: https://herit.ag/3yarVSD, https://herit.ag/3rEwDWv , https://herit.ag/372H5gX

StateMississippiYear2010NameLarry "Tip" MasseyCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeBuying Votes

Larry "Tip" Massey pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit voter fraud in connection with his involvement in a 2007 Benton County election vote-buying scheme. He was sentenced to five years in prison, although three of those years were suspended. He will serve two years in prison and another two under supervised probation.

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

StateMississippiYear2009NameClint Moffitt and Ada TuckerCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeBuying Votes

Clint Moffitt, candidate for Benton County Sheriff, and Ada Tucker were convicted of conspiracy to commit voter fraud in the 2007 primary and runoff elections. Tucker was sentenced to five years, with the first year in prison, second year under house arrest, and three years under supervised release. Moffitt received two years in prison, one under house arrest, and two years of supervised release. Both were ordered to pay $5,000 in fines.

Source: https://herit.ag/3rETQYM, https://herit.ag/374fSuw

StateMississippiYear2009NameJerry KennamoreCase TypeDiversion ProgramFraud TypeFraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

Jerry Kennamore, a 2009 New Albany mayoral candidate, pleaded guilty to forging the name of his daughter as an attesting witness on an absentee ballot during the May 2009 Democratic primary. Kennamore's plea was held in abeyance pending completion of five years of unsupervised probation and payment of a $1,000 fine plus court costs.

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

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

StateMississippiYear2007NameMartha GardnerCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

Martha Gardner pleaded guilty to one count of voter fraud in connection with absentee ballot misconduct during the 2005 Houston mayoral Democratic primary. Witnesses alleged that Gardner had come to them with absentee ballots they did not request and marked the ballots for them. Gardner was initially indicted on 37 counts of voter fraud. A judge imposed a five-year suspended sentence and put Gardner on 30 months of probation. Gardner was also ordered to pay $391.50 in court costs, $100 of which would go to the Crime Victim's Compensation Fund.

Source: https://herit.ag/3j9Zgan

StateMississippiYear2004NameWilliam Greg EasonCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeBuying Votes

A Tallahatchie County jury found William Greg Eason guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit voter fraud and eight counts of voter fraud in connection with his work on Jerome Little's campaign to be District Five Supervisor for Tallahatchie County in a 2003 run-off election. Eason promised items of value (beer and money) to induce people to vote fraudulently by absentee ballot. Eason was sentenced to serve one year in prison for conspiracy to commit voter fraud, and a second year-long sentence plus seven concurrent one-year sentences for the eight counts of voter fraud. Eason's imprisonment totaled two years. His conviction was upheld by the Court of Appeals of Mississippi.

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

StateMississippiYear2004NameJerry Lyles, Jr.Case TypeDiversion ProgramFraud TypeFalse Registrations

Jerry Lyles, Jr., a candidate for District 1 Supervisor in Adams County for the 2004 election, pleaded guilty to one count of completing a voter registration application for a voter in the wrong district. Lyles was sentenced to one year of probation, and at the end of that year his record was expunged.

Source: bit.ly/2eZdOKa, bit.ly/2f5TyED

StateMississippiYear2004NameMinnie SaulsberryCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeBuying Votes

Minnie Saulsberry pleaded guilty to both conspiracy to commit voter fraud and voter fraud after she traded beer, gas, and cash for votes in a run-off election for Tallahatchee County supervisor.

Source: https://herit.ag/3i73osb , https://herit.ag/2ULc6Uh, https://herit.ag/2VisqLO

StateMississippiYear2003NameElberta Brown, Leon Hunt, and Tobe…Case TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeBuying Votes

Elberta Brown, Leon Hunt, and Tobe Jackson pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted bribery in connection with their involvement in a vote-buying scheme surrounding a 2001 special election for Benton County Sheriff. All three engaged in vote-buying by offering $30 to individuals in an attempt to influence them to vote for Steven A. Thompson, a candidate in that election. Three of the individuals who received the money were undercover law enforcement officers. The investigations indicated that they tried to bribe upwards of 50 people on election day. All three faced a maximum sentence of six years in prison and a $3,000 fine.

Source: https://herit.ag/3BLm2xE

StateMississippiYear1993NameCalvin McFarlandCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

Calvin McFarland, an incumbent running for re-election to the Wilkinson County Board of Supervisors, was convicted on two counts relating to illegally signing absentee ballots. McFarland, a Democrat, lost in the primary, and after a lengthy series of runoffs and challenges, was indicted along with 13 other then-current and former county officials. McFarland was charged with six counts of falsely signing names to ballots, and was convicted of two. One of them charged McFarland with signing a ballot in the name of 'Lottie James,' and then falsely attesting that James' signature was valid. For each charge, McFarland was sentenced to five years' imprisonment and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine. One of the prison sentences was suspended.

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

StateMississippiYear1993NameSandra SewellCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

Sandra Sewell was convicted on voter fraud charges stemming from her 1991 efforts to help Calvin McFarland fraudulently win re-election for a seat on the Wilkinson County Board of Supervisors. Sewell notarized fraudulent absentee ballots in the race. Sewell was convicted on eight counts related to the fraud and ordered to serve five years in prison and pay a $2,000 fine. Sewell, an attorney, was also disbarred.

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

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.”