Election Fraud Cases

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State Year Name Type of Case Type of Fraud
StatePennsylvaniaYear2022NameMelissa FisherCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots, Impersonation Fraud At The Polls

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

StatePennsylvaniaYear2022NameRasheen Edgar CrewsCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeBallot Petition Fraud

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

StatePennsylvaniaYear2022NameCheryl MihaliakCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeImpersonation Fraud At The Polls, Fraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

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

StatePennsylvaniaYear2022NameMichael "Ozzie" MyersCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeAltering The Vote Count

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

StatePennsylvaniaYear2022NameFrancis PrestoCase TypeDiversion ProgramFraud TypeFraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots, Impersonation Fraud At The Polls

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

StatePennsylvaniaYear2021NameDomenick DemuroCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeAltering The Vote Count

Domenick Demuro, a Judge of Elections in Philadelphia and a Democratic ward leader, accepted bribes to add fraudulent ballots to voting machines and falsely certify election results for certain Democrat candidates in the 2014, 2015, and 2016 primary elections. According to the DOJ press release, Demuro “admitted that a local political consultant gave him directions and paid him money to add votes for candidates supported by the consultant, including candidates for judicial office whose campaigns actually hired the consultant, and other candidates for various federal, state and local elective offices preferred by that consultant for a variety of reasons.” Demuro pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to deprive Philadelphia voters of their civil rights and one violation of the Hatch act. He will be sentenced on July 20, 2021.

Source: Case No 2:20-cr-00112-PD , bit.ly/2QjjcNh, bit.ly/3vituMP , bit.ly/3tMuXKZ

StatePennsylvaniaYear2021NameBruce BartmanCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

Bruce Bartman was charged with falsely registering for an absentee ballot on behalf of his deceased mother and his deceased mother-in-law in the 2020 general election. A registered Republican, he used his mother’s driver license number and the last four digits of his mother-in-law’s social security number to register them as Republicans in effort to cast fraudulent ballots for Donald Trump. Bartman cast an absentee ballot in his mother’s name, but did not obtain an absentee ballot for his mother-in-law. Bartman pleaded guilty to two felony counts of perjury and one misdemeanor count of illegal voting. He was sentenced to five years’ probation, is barred from voting in any election for 4 years, and is no longer eligible to serve on a jury.

Source: bit.ly/3yojLqr, bit.ly/3fuAtM3 , bit.ly/340i2cN

StatePennsylvaniaYear2021NameRalph Holloway ThurmanCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeImpersonation Fraud At The Polls

Registered Republican Ralph Holloway Thurman voted twice in the 2020 presidential election. After casting his vote, Thurman asked a poll worker if he could vote on behalf of his son, and when workers informed him that it was not allowed, he left the building. Later that day Thurman returned, disguised in a hat and sunglasses, and signed the poll book as his son, a registered Democrat. After casting the second ballot, pollsters recognized him, notified the judge of elections, but Thurman left before election officials could confront him. He pleaded guilty to one count of repeat voting, a felony. Thurman was sentenced to three years' probation and is barred from voting for four years as part of a negotiated plea deal.

Source: https://herit.ag/3vQ5CRV, https://herit.ag/3vQ5CRV, https://herit.ag/2XLR6y2

StatePennsylvaniaYear2021NameRobert Richard Lynn Case TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

Registered Republican Robert Richard Lynn was charged with a third-class misdemeanor for using his deceased mother’s credentials to cast an absentee ballot for Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election. He was sentenced to six months probation and 40 hours of community service.

Source: https://herit.ag/3Cmw4VO, https://herit.ag/3bauXN9

StatePennsylvaniaYear2019NameHarry Sandoe MaxwellCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

Harry Maxwell, of Delaware County, was charged with absentee ballot fraud. In his confession, Maxwell said that he would pick up "girls" and get them to sign absentee ballots in the names of deceased indivduals. He pleaded guilty to one count of forgery, one count of false use of an absentee ballot, and two counts of criminal conspiracy, and was sentenced to two years' probation and ordered to pay $500 in fines.

Source: https://herit.ag/3zHOOgU, bit.ly/3hh6BCf

StatePennsylvaniaYear2018NameDolores ShawCase TypeDiversion ProgramFraud TypeMiscellaneous

Dolores Shaw, the Judge of Election at Philadelphia Poll 43-7, and three other election-board members were indicted after allegations of fraud in Philadelphia's 43rd Ward surfaced after the 2017 special election for the statehouse seat for the 197th District. The cabal were accused of, among other things, intimidating voters who did not want to vote for the Democratic candidate. In court, witnesses testified that they were not able to cast ballots for the candidates of their choice. Shaw received an accelerated rehabilitative disposition for compromising the local election board.

Source: https://herit.ag/3f2YPxc, https://herit.ag/39opeCc, https://herit.ag/378DBcE

StatePennsylvaniaYear2018NameCalvin MattoxCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeMiscellaneous

Calvin Mattox, a Philadelphia election-board worker, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor "qualification of election officials" charge. Mattox, a Democrat, worked at Poll 43-7 despite not being a resident of the 43rd Ward as required by state law. He and three others were charged following allegations of fraud in a 2017 special election for the statehouse seat for the 197th District. The cabal were accused of, among other things, intimidating voters who did not want to vote for the Democrat candidate. In court, witnesses testified that they were not able to cast ballots for the candidates of their choice. Mattox was sentenced to one year of probation and stripped of his voting rights until 2022.

Source: https://herit.ag/3x2G7vT, https://herit.ag/3l2zQOc

StatePennsylvaniaYear2018NameWallace HillCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeMiscellaneous

Wallace Hill, a translator at Philadelphia Poll 43-7, pleaded guilty to a charge of failure to perform duty. Hill and three other board members were indicted after allegations of fraud in Philadelphia's 43rd Ward surfaced after the 2017 special election for the statehouse seat for the 197th District. The cabal were accused of, among other things, intimidating voters who did not want to vote for the Democratic candidate. In court, witnesses testified that they were not able to cast ballots for the candidates of their choice. Hill was sentenced to 18 months of probation and was stripped of his right to vote until 2022.

Source: https://herit.ag/3710Bug, https://herit.ag/39lKMiV

StatePennsylvaniaYear2018NameThurman GeorgeCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeMiscellaneous

Thurman George, a Democrat election-board member and machine inspector at Philadelphia Poll 43-7, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of fraud by an election officer. George and three other board members were indicted after allegations of fraud in Philadelphia's 43rd Ward surfaced after the 2017 special election for the statehouse seat for the 197th District. The cabal were accused of, among other things, intimidating voters who did not want to vote for the Democratic candidate. In court, witnesses testified that they were not able to cast ballots for the candidates of their choice. George was sentenced to five years of probation and was stripped of his right to vote until 2022.

Source: https://herit.ag/3zDnIYb, https://herit.ag/3xaW6Id

StatePennsylvaniaYear2017NameRichard Cummings Jr.Case TypeDiversion ProgramFraud TypeFalse Registrations

Richard Cummings, an Allegheny County School Board Member, moved from Westmoreland County to Allegheny County in 2009, but continued voting at his Westmoreland address through the 2016 general election. He was charged with five counts of unlawful voting, and one count of unsworn falsification for claiming he was a resident of the county when he voted there in 2010, 2012, and 2016. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to one year of probation through the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition Program for first time non-violent offenders. He can petition to have his record expunged upon completion of the program and probation.

Source: https://herit.ag/3kYtek0, https://herit.ag/3i71SX7

StatePennsylvaniaYear2016NameCheryl Ali (aka Cheryl Jamison)Case TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeImpersonation Fraud At The Polls

Cheryl Ali, 57, pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges: unlawful assistance in voting, and falsely holding the position of an election officer. In the May 2014 primary, Ali voted on behalf of her mother, whom she claimed was ill. In the May 2014 general election, Ali served as machine inspector at a polling place even though she did not live in that division. Ali was sentenced to one year of probation and stripped of her voting rights for the next four years. As part of her plea bargain, the felony charges against her were dismissed.

Source: https://herit.ag/3tX2vH1, https://herit.ag/3zHOZZC

StatePennsylvaniaYear2016NameMyron Cowher, Dmitry KupershmidtCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeAltering The Vote Count

Myron Cowher and Dmitry Kupershmidt were found guilty of attempting to rig a May 2014 election in the private community of Wild Acres Lakes. According to Wild Acres Property Manager Robert Depaolis, Cowher approached him and asked him to provide Cowher with ballots that were due to be mailed to property owners in the community who seldom voted, for the express purpose of filling out those ballots and guaranteeing victory for Cowher's preferred Board of Directors candidates. Depaolis went to the state police, who surveilled a meeting where Depaolis handed over the ballots, catching Cowher in the act of filling out the mail-in ballots. He was arrested and subsequently convicted on 217 counts, including forgery, identity theft, and criminal conspiracy. His accomplice, Kupershmidt, was found guilty on 190 counts. Cohwer received a sentence of between 18 months and four years in a state correctional facility, and was ordered to pay a $10,850 fine. Kuperschmidt's sentencing has been delayed due to a change in attorneys.

Source: https://herit.ag/3At4HbA, https://herit.ag/378DDkM, https://herit.ag/3f2iU6B

StatePennsylvaniaYear2016NameRobin Trainor, Laura MurtaughCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeImpersonation Fraud At The Polls

Robin Trainor, 56, and Laura Murtaugh, 57, were each sentenced to a year of probation and will not be allowed to vote for the next four years after pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges of election code violations. According to witnesses, Trainor, who was serving as the judge of elections at the polling place (even though she was disqualified from doing so as a public official), went into the voting booth with her husband and told him how to vote. She then stepped out of the voting booth, spoke to Murtaugh (who was serving as the minority elections inspector at the polling place), signed the election register under her 23-year-old son's name, reset the voting machine, returned to the voting booth, and cast a ballot in his name. Trainor pleaded guilty to two charges--failure to perform duty and falsely holding the position of an election officer--and Murtaugh pleaded guilty to failure to perform her duty. As part of their plea bargains, the felony charges against them were dismissed.

Source: bit.ly/2f8z2D8, https://herit.ag/3tX2vH1

StatePennsylvaniaYear2015NameEugene GallagherCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

Eugene Gallagher pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges in connection with the November 2013 election, in which he was a candidate for councilman in the Taylor Borough. He unlawfully persuaded Taylor residents and non-residents to register for absentee ballots in the election using a Taylor address. Gallagher was the top vote-getter in the election and won his first term as councilman. With his guilty plea, Gallagher can no longer hold public office. A judge sentenced him to a maximum of 10 months in jail and two months of house arrest for both his election fraud conviction and a DUI conviction. He was also sentenced to more than five years of court supervision and 200 hours of community service.

Source: https://herit.ag/3l0pZbE

StatePennsylvaniaYear2014NameRichard Allan ToneyCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

The former police chief of Harmar Township, pleaded guilty to illegally soliciting absentee ballots to benefit his wife and her running mate in the 2009 Democratic primary for town council. Toney applied for the ballots, and then had them filled out illegally by individuals not expected to be absent on election day. The absentee ballot count flipped the primary results, securing a victory for Mrs. Toney's running mate. During the subsequent FBI investigation, Mr. Toney attempted to prevent witnesses, including two grand jury witnesses, from testifying. Toney was sentenced to three years' probation.

Source: https://herit.ag/3tXbxDG, https://herit.ag/3iTTE3J

StatePennsylvaniaYear2012NameMichael MonaghanCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeIneligible Voting

Michael Monaghan pleaded guilty to illegally voting in Pennsylvania.

Source: https://herit.ag/2V8DOdj

StatePennsylvaniaYear2010NameDavid Patrick DuffyCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

David Patrick Duffy, of Doylestown, pleaded guilty to forgery, record tampering, and making an unsworn falsification to authorities in relation to falsified voter registrations. He forged numerous individuals' signatures on fraudulent voter registrations. Duffy was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to pay court costs.

Source: https://herit.ag/3ybqH9P, https://herit.ag/3EzxrSz

StatePennsylvaniaYear2010NameEric Jones, Alexis Givner, and Mario…Case TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFalse Registrations

Eric Jones, a former ACORN employee, pleaded guilty to a charge of submitting false voter registrations. Meanwhile, fellow Pennsylvania ACORN employees Alexis Givner and Mario Grisom, have also been convicted of registration fraud-related charges. Each was sentenced to two years' probation.

Source: https://herit.ag/3BL5vcY, https://herit.ag/3iWOrYK

StatePennsylvaniaYear2009NameJemar BarksdaleCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFalse Registrations

While an employee for ACORN, Jemar Barksdale falsified 18 voter registration cards. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 23 months of house arrest.

Source: https://herit.ag/3742tT4, https://herit.ag/3f1dN6X

StatePennsylvaniaYear2004NameVictor Bernard PinhoCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeDuplicate Voting

Victor Pinho pleaded guilty to a third-degree misdemeanor charge of unlawful voting. He had illegally voted in both Philadelphia and Lehigh county.

Source: https://herit.ag/3y85CNr

StatePennsylvaniaYear2004NameGeorge Edgar Rheam, Jr.Case TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFalse Registrations

George Edgar Rheam, Jr. pleaded guilty to two violations of the state Election Code, perjury and false signatures and statements. He was fined and given probation.

Source: https://herit.ag/3x6wZWX

StatePennsylvaniaYear2003NameMark CosentinoCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFalse Registrations

Mark Cosentino pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful voting. Cosentino registered to vote, and voted, in his childhood hometown despite not living there. He was sentenced to six months' probation.

Source: https://herit.ag/3x2sZ9W, https://herit.ag/3zIBQiU, https://herit.ag/39iPePA

StatePennsylvaniaYear2002NameLinda DerenCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeIneligible Voting

Linda Deren pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful voting.

Source: bit.ly/2uefNTk, bit.ly/2uMnMEr

StatePennsylvaniaYear1999NameAustin MurphyCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

Former Congressman Austin Murphy was convicted on one charge of absentee ballot fraud. Murphy forged ballots for senior citizens living in a nursing home, claiming merely to be assisting them in exercising their voting rights. He was sentenced to six months of probation and ordered to perform 50 hours of community service.

Source: https://herit.ag/3BOrBLR, https://herit.ag/3iSGMLl, https://herit.ag/3i71Y0V

StatePennsylvaniaYear1998NameJames VadellaCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeMiscellaneous

James Vadella, brother of former Carbondale Mayor Joseph Vadella, pleaded guilty to a federal charge of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, as well as charges of forgery, conspiracy to tamper with public records, tampering with public records, and violations of the election code. Vadella conspired with his brother, Michael, to alter election results in a primary election in which he was a candidate by obtaining and falsely filling out absentee ballots. Vadella was sentenced to two months' imprisonment, followed by home confinement and probation.

Source: bit.ly/2udYp18, https://herit.ag/2VgRdjG

StatePennsylvaniaYear1998NameJoseph VadellaCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeMiscellaneous

Former Carbondale Mayor Joseph Vadella pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit voter fraud and election code violations related to a Pennsylvania district justice race. He was sentenced to serve between three and nine months in jail, to run concurrently with a four-month prison sentence for a related conviction in federal court of preventing a witness from testifying. Following his release, Vadella was subject to home confinement and probation.

Source: https://herit.ag/3BQhZAi, https://herit.ag/3iV3iD3

StatePennsylvaniaYear1998NameMichael VadellaCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeMiscellaneous

Michael Vadella, the brother of former Carbondale Mayor Joseph Vadella, pleaded guilty in county court to conspiracy, forgery, tampering with public records, and election law violations. He also pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Michael Vadella conspired with his brother, James, to alter election results in a primary election in which James was a candidate. The pair obtained and falsely filled out absentee ballots. He was sentenced to three months in jail, followed by home confinement and probation.

Source: bit.ly/2udYp18, https://herit.ag/2VdbWF4

StatePennsylvaniaYear1994Name1993 Philadelphia Special ElectionCase TypeJudicial FindingFraud TypeElection Overturned, Fraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

A 1993 special Pennsylvania state senate election was overturned by a federal district court judge due to absentee ballot fraud. This election was important as the senate was evenly divided and the winner would determine which party controlled the senate. Campaign workers for Democratic candidate William Stimson engaged in a massive absentee ballot scheme involving nearly 600 tainted ballots. After a surprising and extraordinary surge in absentee ballots seemed to result in a victory for Stinson, an investigation was undertaken.  Stinson was indicted for his role in the scheme but was not convicted.  Two campaign workers, Ramon Pratt and Barbara Landers, were convicted of misdemeanor offenses.

 

In a related civil suit, however, a federal district court judge determined that Stinson and others engaged in a scheme to steal the election, and Stinson was removed from office.  The scheme primarily targeted Latino and black voters by using intimidation, and deception in order to fraudulently obtain and process absentee ballots in violation of state law. Two Democratic city commissioners, Margaret Tartaglione and Alexander Talmadge, Jr., and an elections supervisor, Dennis Kelly, were also found to have been complicit in allowing the fraud to occur.

Source: https://herit.ag/3kmWmR8, nyti.ms/37Iz7L4 , bit.ly/2WDw949 , https://herit.ag/3lAcK08

StatePennsylvaniaYear1994NameBarbara Landers Case TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

Barbara Landers, a Democrat campaign worker, was involved in a massive absentee ballot scheme during the 1993 Pennsylvania special state senate election. She was convicted of 30 counts of misleading absentee voters, given a suspended sentence, and fined $1,000.

Source: https://herit.ag/3Cxo187

StatePennsylvaniaYear1994NameRamon Pratt Case TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

Ramon Pratt, a Democrat campaign worker, was involved in a massive absentee ballot scheme during the 1993 Pennsylvania special state senate election. He pleaded guilty to 22 counts of election law violations for his role in the scheme. Pratt was sentenced to two years of probation for his involvement.

Source: https://herit.ag/2Z5MZx0