Election Fraud Cases
The result of the 180th district court judicial election was overturned in Harris County, Texas, after a state judge concluded that over 1,400 illegal votes had been counted. The margin of victory was only 449 votes in an election in which over one million votes were cast. However, the judge found clear and convincing evidence that 983 votes were cast by individuals who did not actually reside in Harris County, did not correctly list their residence, or listed non-residential addresses such as post offices as their residence on their voter registration; 40 absentee ballots lacked the required signatures and 8 ballots were not mailed in a timely manner; 445 voters did not provide proper identification or substitute documentation to prove their identity; 5 provisional ballots lacked a signature and one lacked a photo ID or an acceptable substitute. In total, the court ruled that 1,482 illegal votes were cast in the election, far outweighing the 449-vote margin between the two candidates. The court ordered a new election.
Source: herit.ag/3Y4e2VV
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
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
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
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
Shannon Brown, Commissioner of Gregg County, Texas pleaded guilty to charges of misdemeanor election fraud and record tampering. During the 2018 Democratic primary Longview City Council election, Brown organized a scheme to harvest absentee ballots with help from two paid campaign workers and his wife to increase the votes in his favor. Brown, along with 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. Brown was originally charged with over 20 felony charges related to providing false information on voting applications. As part of his plea deal, Brown was sentenced to one year in jail which was suspended to a year's probation and fined $2,445. Brown was allowed to stay in office.
Source: https://herit.ag/3uVtk0S, https://herit.ag/3JBDN5J, https://herit.ag/3Bo6xf6 , https://herit.ag/3gMJvFv
Charles Nathan Jackson, of Tarrant County, forged the name of a stranger, Mardene Hickerson, on an application for an early voting ballot. Jackson pleaded guilty to providing false information on a voting application, a felony, as part of a plea deal to avoid an enhancement for previous drug and theft offenses. He was sentenced to 10 days in jail, and was given credit for time already served.
Source: https://herit.ag/3f1kAxn
Rosita Flores, of Robstown, illegally obtained an elderly voter's mail-ballot, filled it out, and cast the ballot without the permission of the voter. Flores pleaded guilty and received a suspended one-year jail sentence, 18 months of probation, and was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and $316 in court costs. She was also ordered to complete 60 hours of community service and spend 10 consecutive Saturdays in the San Patricio County Jail.
Source: https://herit.ag/3y3ByTf
A closely contested run-off election for a Justice of Peace seat was overturned by Visiting District Court Judge Joel Johnson, following a two-day hearing. A challenge to the election was filed by Ofelia "Ofie" Gutierrez, the candidate running against long time seatholder, Esequiel "Cheque" De La Paz, for the Justice of the Peace seat in Kleberg County. After a recount narrowed the vote differential to just six votes (312 to 318), seven of the sixteen votes contested by Guiterrez were thrown out by Judge Johnson, because they were cast by relatives of De La Paz who lived outside the Precinct 4 boundaries. A new election was ordered to be held before the end of August.
Source: https://herit.ag/3iTTEkf, https://herit.ag/3BQhSVo
Cynthia Gonzalez, of Nueces County, marked and mailed ballots that were not her own in the 2016 Nueces County Democratic Primary. Gonzalez pleaded guilty to three charges of election code violations and was sentenced to serve five days in the San Patricio County Jail.
Source: https://herit.ag/3rCeZ5C, https://herit.ag/3y4jpVk, https://herit.ag/3zKbEUP
In a Republican primary for a seat on the Kaufman County Court, Dennis Jones appeared to beat his challenger Tracy Gray by one vote. Gray challenged the results, claiming that a "vote harvester" had submitted a number of illegal mail-in ballots and that numerous eligible provisional ballots were uncounted. A district judge agreed, invalidating the election results and ordering a new election. The special election was held on July 21 and Tracy Gray prevailed, winning by 404 votes.
Source: https://herit.ag/378DJJa, https://herit.ag/3f3wjeH
Laura Janeth Garza, a Mexican citizen, pleaded guilty to two felony charges of voter impersonation and ineligible voting. Garza stole the identity of her cousin, a US citizen, in order to remain in the United States, and used it to register and vote in multiple elections, including the 2016 presidential election. Garza received a probated 10-year prison sentence, 180 days in jail, and was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. After her jail term is completed, Garza will be deported.
Source: https://herit.ag/3i8MWYq, https://herit.ag/3l328rO
Mario Obdulio Orellana, a 57-year-old Salvadoran national, was indicted in June 2018 by the Department of Justice on federal immigration and voter fraud violations. An investigation by the U.S. Attorney's office in the Eastern District of Texas revealed that Orellana illegally entered the United States in the 1980s, falsified documents to obtain a U.S. birth certificate and social security number, and then used these documents to apply for a U.S. passport and register to vote. His five-count indictment included voter fraud charges related to his voting in the November 2016 election. As part of a plea agreement, Orellana pleaded guilty to making false statements in a U.S. passport application in exchange for the other charges being dropped. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison.
Source: https://herit.ag/2TEI8AL, https://herit.ag/3BWg0KP, https://herit.ag/3iV3n9P
Armando O'Cana won a run-off mayoral election in Mission, Texas, unseating longtime holder Norberto 'Beto' Salinas. Salinas contested the results of the election, after strong evidence emerged that O'Cana's campaign was bribing voters, tampering with mail-in ballots, and improperly assisting voters at the polls. After a two week trial during which numerous witnesses testified, Judge J. Bonner Dorsey voided the election stating, 'I hold or find, by clear and convincing evidence, that the number of illegal votes was in excess of 158.' Attorneys for O'Cana are currently appealing the ruling in the 13th Texas Court of Appeals.
Source: https://herit.ag/3BEYlH8, https://herit.ag/3i88t3v, https://herit.ag/3iWOsfg
Miguel Hernandez visited an elderly woman shortly before the 2017 Dallas City Council election, collected her blank absentee ballot, filled it out, and forged her signature before mailing it back. Hernandez was the first person arrested as part of a larger voter fraud investigation in the Dallas area, stemming from claims by elderly voters that someone was forging their signatures and the return of nearly 700 mail-in ballots all signed by the same witness using a fake name. Hernandez faced a felony illegal voting charge, but pleaded to a lesser misdemeanor offense of "method of returning marked ballot." He was sentenced to 180 days in jail and given credit for time served.
Source: https://herit.ag/370axUW, https://herit.ag/3f1ZChS
Russ Casey, a Texas Justice of the Peace, submitted false signatures in order to ensure his place on the Republican primary ballot during his 2018 reelection campaign. Casey withdrew and resigned following the revelation that he had falsified multiple petition signatures and falsely attested to having witnessed the signatures. Casey pleaded guilty to a charge of tampering with a government record, and received a suspended two-year prison sentence and five years of probation.
Source: https://herit.ag/371lVjt
Noe Olvera pleaded guilty to a federal bribery charge. Olvera, a postman, admitted to taking a $1,000 bribe from a paid campaign worker in exchange for a list of the names and addresses of mail-in ballot recipients on his postal route. After a two-year investigation into local voting fraud, hidden camera footage surfaced revealing a uniformed and on-the-job Olvera "negotiating an exchange of money for mail-in voter lists." Olvera was sentenced to serve 18 months in federal prison.
Source: https://herit.ag/2UV40Z1, https://herit.ag/3BEYytU
Rosa Maria Ortega, a non-citizen, was found guilty on two counts of voting in the November 2012 general election and the 2014 Republican primary runoff. Ortega claimed she thought she was a citizen and blamed her lack of education for the mix-up, but prosecutors pointed out that Ortega had previously indicated on a drivers license application that she was a non-citizen. A judge sentenced her to eight years' imprisonment, after which she faces the possibility of deportation.
Source: https://herit.ag/3l22q2j, https://herit.ag/3x5RkeT, https://herit.ag/3zIkxOM
Manuel Rodriguez III, of Edwards County, impersonated his elderly grandfather to vote in the 2014 general election while on supervised parole for a felony. He was charged with two counts of illegal voting, pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to serve two years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Institutional Division.
Source: https://herit.ag/3BEYvOK, https://herit.ag/3f4Ygmm
Tyron Davis, a former constable in Ellis County, Texas, was convicted of six counts of voter fraud for assisting nursing home residents with their mail-in ballots and voter registration applications without identifying his assistance on the ballot. He was also convicted of false identification as a peace officer for having pasted an image of his face onto the body of a peace officer for use on a flier advertising his assistance at the nursing home during his campaign, all before he became an officer. Davis resigned his officer's license to avoid jail time.
Source: https://herit.ag/2Wi1iNC, https://herit.ag/3yb4msS
Jeanene Johnson pleaded guilty to unlawfully depositing a ballot. Johnson assisted Latunia Thomas, a fellow Harris County poll worker, to unlawfully cast a ballot for her daughter, who was not present. Johnson served one day in jail and was released.
Source: https://herit.ag/3i71gk2
Latunia Thomas pleaded guilty to unlawfully depositing a ballot. Thomas forged her daughter's signature and cast a ballot in her name although she was not present at the polls. Thomas was assisted by Jeanene Johnson, both poll workers in Harris County, Texas. Thomas was released after serving one day in jail.
Source: bit.ly/2tvfjFi, bit.ly/2sv75vz
Prosecutors charged Graciela Sanchez with four misdemeanor counts of violating election law in an effort to assist Guadalupe Rivera win re-election to the post of Weslaco city commissioner in 2013. Rivera and Sanchez were found to have illegally "assisted" absentee ballot voters. The results of the election were disputed, and a judge determined that 30 ballots had been illegally cast in an election decided by only 16 votes. Sanchez pleaded guilty and received two years' probation.
Source: bit.ly/2f8AtkT, bit.ly/2f8AtkT
Guadalupe Rivera, a former Weslaco city commissioner, pleaded guilty to one count of providing illegal "assistance" to a voter by filling out an absentee ballot "in a way other than the way the voter directed or without direction from the voter." The fraud took place during Rivera's 2013 re-election bid, which he won by a scant 16 votes. His challenger sued alleging fraud, and a judge determined that 30 ballots had been illegally cast, enough to alter the outcome of the election. A new election was subsequently held, and Rivera lost. Rivera originally faced 16 election-related charges, 15 of which were dropped as part of his plea deal. He was sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay a $500 fine.
Source: https://herit.ag/3BNfiPJ
Avery Ayers, a candidate for the U.S. Senate, forged signatures on a petition for candidacy in the 2014 General Election race in Texas. Ayers pled guilty to one count of third degree felony forgery and was sentenced to five years in prison.
Source: https://herit.ag/3y85HRf, Case no. 1476757
Michael Scotch and his wife, Tamara, of Edwards County, voted in a district other than the one in which they resided in a 2013 municipal election. The Scotches both falsely listed their residence as being in Rocksprings, and voted there, despite not living in the city. Michael was charged with two counts of illegal voting and two counts of tampering with a government record. Michael pleaded guilty to illegal voting in exchange for the state dropping the other charges. He was sentenced to 24 months' deferred adjudication during which he was on community supervision, and was ordered to pay a $500 fine.
Source: https://herit.ag/3rAO228, https://herit.ag/3ymcwPz
Following an investigation by the Texas Attorney General's office, Facunda Garcia was charged along with five others, for illegal assistance at the polls during the 2012 Democratic primary runoff election in Cameron County. She pleaded guilty to filling out the ballot for a female voter without that voter's direction to do so. Garcia was sentenced to three days in jail, but was given credit for time served; court costs and fees were waived.
Source: https://herit.ag/378DIF6
In the Donna School Board race, four campaign workers participated in a scheme that involved buying votes with cocaine, cash, beer, and cigarettes. All four pleaded guilty; Garcia received an 18-month sentence, and Castaneda received an eight-month sentence with credit for cooperating against her co-defendants.
Source: bit.ly/2e8xPPu, bit.ly/2uesT2u
Rafael Angel Elizondo, of Cameron County, along with Jose Garza, engaged in illegal vote harvesting during the 2012 Democratic Primary run-off. Elizondo improperly posessed between 10 and 20 ballots without the consent of the voters. Elizondo faced a third degree felony method of returning marked ballot charge. He pleaded no contest to the charge and was sentenced to serve three days in county jail.
Source: https://herit.ag/378DMVm, https://herit.ag/3f4FtYr
Following an investigation by the Texas Attorney General's office, Tomasa Ramirez Chavez was charged with engaging in election fraud, along with five others during the 2012 Democratic Primary runoff election in Cameron County. She pleaded guilty to illegal "assistance" at the polls and was sentenced to a suspended sentence of six months' jail time and required to complete one year community supervision and to pay a $250 fine.
Source: https://herit.ag/3l01onx
Hazel Woodard, a Democratic Precinct Chairwoman candidate in Fort Worth, was concerned that her husband would not make it to the polls to vote, so she had her teenage son vote for him. The impersonation went undetected until the husband went to the polls later that day and tried to cast a second ballot in his name. Hazel was indicted for impersonation fraud at the polls, pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to two years of deferred adjudication probation.
Source: https://herit.ag/3i4LiXS
Following an investigation by the Texas Attorney General's office, Vicenta Guajardo Verino was charged with engaging in election fraud, along with five others during the 2012 Democratic Primary runoff election in Cameron County. After admitting that he provided illegal 'assistance' at the polls, Verino entered into a deferred adjudication agreement. She was required to complete 12 months' supervised probation and ordered to pay a fine of $250.
Source: https://herit.ag/3rK1ild
Jose Angel Garcia, of Cameron County, along with Rafael Angel Elizondo, engaged in illegal vote harvesting during the 2012 Democratic Primary runoff. Garza improperly possessed as many as 10 ballots without the consent of the voters. Garza faced five felony counts of method of returning marked ballot. He pleaded guilty to one of those charges and was sentenced to serve two days in county jail.
Source: https://herit.ag/3kX7GUW, https://herit.ag/3x9CsfN
Following an investigation by the Texas Attorney General's office, Margarita Rangel Ozuna was charged with engaging in election fraud, along with five others during the 2012 Democratic Primary runoff election in Cameron County. Ozuna pleaded guilty to charges of fraudulent use of absentee ballots and was sentenced to serve 15 days in Cameron County jail and required to pay a $250 fine. This was the second time that Ozuna was convicted of voter fraud. In 2013, she was convicted of felony voter fraud stemming from the 2010 election.
Source: bit.ly/2E3q99l, bit.ly/2pL2B4H
Bernice Garcia, of Cameron County, engaged in illegal vote harvesting during the 2012 Democratic Primary run-off election. Garcia faced three misdemeanor charges for unlawful voter assistance, unlawful method of returning a marked ballot, and unlawful possession of another's ballot. Garcia entered a conditional plea and was given a one year Deferred Prosecution Contract for the offense of unlawfully assisting a voter.
Source: https://herit.ag/2Vdv5qr
Following an investigation by the Texas Attorney General's office, Sara Virginia Perales was charged with engaging in election fraud, along with five others during the 2012 Democratic Primary runoff election in Cameron County. After admitting that she falsified absentee ballots, Perales entered into a deferred adjudication agreement. She was required to complete 12 months' probation and pay a $150 fine, in addition to being barred from engaging in voting activities.
Source: bit.ly/2pRIEbx, bit.ly/2pL2B4H
Tamara Scotch and her husband, Michael, of Edwards County, voted in a district other than the one in which they resided in a 2013 municipal election. The Scotches both falsely listed their residence as being in Rocksprings, and voted there, despite not living in the city. Tamara was charged with two counts of illegal voting and two counts of tampering with a government record. Tamara pleaded no contest to illegal voting in exchange for the state dropping the other charges. She was sentenced to 24 months' deferred adjudication during which she was on community supervision, and was ordered to pay a $500 fine.
Source: https://herit.ag/3i4UR9d, https://herit.ag/3j9ZlLd
Benito Aranda Jr., who was ineligible to vote due to a prior felony conviction, voted illegally in a 2012 primary election. Aranda pled guilty and was sentenced to 10 years in prison, probated to 10 years of community supervision.
Source: https://herit.ag/3yakNFV, Case no. 14-0713-904-CR
Richard Alan Collier pleaded guilty to attempting to vote twice in the November 2012 general election, in both Minnesota and Texas. He requested and submitted absentee ballots in both states. Galveston County officials were alerted to Collier's illegal behavior when they were tipped off about a Facebook post in which Collier admitted to double voting. Collier 's misdemeanor conviction earned him a $4,000 fine.
Source: https://herit.ag/3iTTAkv
Former Dallas County Justice of the Peace, Carlos Medrano, was convicted on one count of illegal voting. A grand jury had indicted him for two counts of soliciting votes of non-resident family members in his election for justice of the peace. He was sentenced to serve 180 days in jail, five years on probation, and fined $2,500.
Source: bit.ly/2tvFDz8, bit.ly/2tWBs2i, bit.ly/2sRNq8g
Two campaign workers pleaded guilty in the Southern District of Texas for paying voters to vote in two 2012 elections in Hidalgo County, Texas. In an elaborate vote-buying scheme, Belina Solis and Veronica Saldivar offered "baggies" of cocaine and money in exchange for votes for local and county candidates. After an extensive FBI investigation, they both pleaded guilty to one count of vote-buying.
Source: https://herit.ag/3f2jVMh
Adrian Heath, Sybil Doyle, and Roberta Cook were convicted of voting on a referendum about whether the Woodlands Road Utility District could raise taxes to cover municipal debt, even though none of them were residents in the district. The election results were subsequently overturned. Heath was sentenced to a three-year prison sentence and a fine of $10,000; Cook and Doyle each received three-year prison sentences, five years' probation, and fines of $5,000.
Source: https://herit.ag/3Akxu3e, https://herit.ag/3x92Tlu
Lorenzo Antonio Almanza, of Progreso, was convicted of voting twice in Progreso's 2009 school board election, once in his own name and once using his incarcerated brother's name. Almanza was sentenced to two years' imprisonment and five years of probation.
Source: https://herit.ag/3x92Upy, https://herit.ag/3yl7X7K
Fermina Castillo pleaded guilty to one count of illegal felon voting in the 2010 general election. She was sentenced to two years of deferred adjudication and community supervision and was ordered to pay a $100 fine.
Source: bit.ly/2suN2gD
Margarita Rangel Ozuna pleaded no contest to illegally assisting Ricardo Liceaga Alonso in voting in 2010. She prepared his ballot without his direction, and then deposited his carrier envelope without providing the proper information on the envelope. Ozuna received a sentence of probation.
Source: bit.ly/2rCmpGt, bit.ly/2rQM9mq
Magdalena Robledo Rodriguez pleaded guilty to illegal voting for falsely listing an address during the 2010 election in Alton. Rodriguez changed her registration to an address belonging to Jose Picasso, one of the candidates in the Alton mayoral election. Rodriguez was sentenced to deferred adjudication and was ordered to pay a $250 fine.
Source: bit.ly/2tsJ7lt, bit.ly/2tt8hk6
Martha Estella Rodriguez, of Mission, pleaded guilty to voting in the 2010 election in nearby Alton, despite not living in that city. According to officials, Rodriguez changed her registration to an address belonging to Jose Picasso, one of the candidates in the Alton mayoral election. Records indicated that at least 23 others did the same prior to voting. Rodriguez was sentenced to serve one day in jail, two years of community supervision, and was ordered to pay a $500 fine.
Source: bit.ly/2tsWG4B, bit.ly/2tt8hk6
Sonia Solis pleaded guilty to voting five times under five different names in the 2012 primary runoff election. She committed her fraud using absentee ballots. She was sentenced to six months of home confinement and five years' probation.
Source: https://herit.ag/3BLKr6b
James Alan Jenkins was convicted of illegal voting after he made a false statement on a voter registration application. Specifically, Jenkins designated a Residence Inn as his address so that he, and a group of other individuals, could vote in an election in a district in which he did not live to try to take control of a local utility board. While the trial court initially sentenced Jenkins to 3 years in prison and a $10,000 fine, the Court of Appeals overturned that conviction and remanded the case for retrial. At the retrial, Jenkins pleaded no contest to falsifying data on a registration application and was sentence to 12 months' probation and ordered to pay a $2,000 fine.
Source: https://herit.ag/2UTvuym, https://herit.ag/370atVc, https://herit.ag/3BEYvhI, Case no. 12-03-015479-CR
Israel Garza, who, as a felon, was ineligible to vote in a 2010 Texas municipal election, nonetheless attempted to do so, but was ultimately unsuccessful. He pled guilty to attempted illegal voting and was sentenced to 12 months in prison, 2 years of probation, and a fine of $2,500.
Source: bit.ly/2ITls9V, Case no. 2013-DCR-00957
Adrian Heath was convicted by a jury of illegal voting after he made a false statement on a voter registration application. Specifically, Heath and nine other individuals designated a Residence Inn as their home address so that they could vote in an election in a district in which he did not live to try to take control of a local utility board from the incumbent three incumbent board members. The scheme initially succeeded, but after the results were challenged and the scheme was uncovered, the results were overturned and the incumbents were reinstated. Heath was sentenced to 3 years in prison, and served just shy of six months before he was paroled.
Source: bit.ly/2KLNPIc
Rolando Medrano pleaded guilty to two counts of felony perjury after lying to a grand jury about the residency of Raquel Medrano, his great-niece. Rolando allowed Raquel to claim his address as her residence so she could illegally vote for another member of the family, Carlos Medrano, for Justice of the Peace. When questioned under oath as part of an investigation into voter fraud in 2010 Democrat primary election, Rolando falsely claimed Raquel was living with him. Four other perjury charges were dropped as part of a plea deal, as were charges against Raquel Medrano. Rolando Medrano was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, which was probated for four years of community supervision and 45 days in jail. He was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and $219 in court costs.
Source: Case No. 2-11-416 (Information obtained from the Office of the Attorney General of Texas), bit.ly/2EESTsu
Jose de Jesus Cano, of Hildago County, illegally voted in a 2008 School District Election despite being ineligible because of a prior felony conviction. Cano pleaded guilty to one count of illegal voting and received a probated 10-year prison sentence, and was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and $313 in court costs.
Source: Case No. 09-090-10115 CR (Information obtained from the Office of the Attorney General of Texas)
Jacob Barac pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges after admitting that he signed a voter application attesting to his citizenship despite his permanent resident status, which made him ineligible to vote. Barac claimed that he had requested the ballot so that his roommate could vote, and then filled it out himself. He was sentenced to five years of supervised probation and 40 hours of community service.
Source: https://herit.ag/3rB1Qdd
Angel Trujillo, of Hildago County, voted in a 2010 Municipal and School District Election despite being despite being ineligible because of a prior felony conviction. Trujillo pleaded guilty to one count of illegal voting and received a three year prison sentenced, probated for community supervision, and was ordered to pay a $750 fine.
Source: Case No. CR-1914-12-E (Information obtained from the Office of the Attorney General of Texas)
Gilda Hernandez pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful assistance, two counts of illegal possession of a ballot, and two counts of failure to provide identifying information while assisting a voter. Hernandez was sentenced to one year of deferred adjudication and a $250 fine.
Source: bit.ly/2rCDVKl
Christine Thomas Shank, of Brazos County, pleaded guilty to unlawful assistance at the polls in the 2010 general election. She was sentenced to one year of deferred adjudication. Shank was placed under community supervision and was ordered to complete 20 hours of community service and pay a $500 fine and $332 in court costs. Shank was also barred from offering any future "assistance" to voters.
Source: bit.ly/2rCDVKl
Dallas County Justice of the Peace Carlos Medrano was found guilty of one count of illegal voting for persuading a niece to register to vote using an address where she did not reside. Medrano was sentenced to 180 days' incarceration.
Source: bit.ly/2fLc4p7
Ronald Marsh pleaded guilty to illegally voting in the 2009 Smith County Municipal Election. He received four years' deferred adjudication, and was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and complete 100 hours of community service.
Source: https://herit.ag/3i7Jpty
Delores McMillian, a poll worker in Dallas, pleaded guilty to trying to vote using another person's voter registration information in the 2010 primary election. Another poll worker prevented her from casting a falsified ballot. She was sentenced to one year of probation and was ordered to pay $227 in court costs.
Source: https://herit.ag/2THy222, https://herit.ag/3l5Qnku
Regino Cantu Salinas pleaded guilty to voting illegally in the 2008 primary election. Salinas was a convicted felon and therefore ineligible to vote. He was sentenced to 90 days in jail, two years' probation, and was ordered to pay a $2,000 fine.
Source: https://herit.ag/3rETS2Q
Almanza was charged with illegal voting and voter impersonation in a 2009 school district election. Almanza and one of her sons cast votes at a polling place. Later, Almanza brought her son back to the polls, where he cast a vote in the name of his incarcerated brother. She received a two-year suspended sentence, five years' probation, 90 days in county jail, and court costs.
Source: https://herit.ag/3BL5CVW, https://herit.ag/3f22riK, https://herit.ag/370ayrY
Alicia Pena Perez, a former Freer municipal judge, pleaded guilty to four counts of unlawful assistance and four counts of possession of a ballot. During the 2008 primary election, Perez took possession of ballots that did not belong to her and illegally prepared them. She received one year of probation and was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine plus court costs.
Source: https://herit.ag/3i7Jpd2
Estela Cruz Saenz was given a six month pre-trial diversion after she was charged with seven counts of knowingly providing false information in order to obtain an early-voting ballot. In addition to the diversion program, Saenz was ordered to pay a $60 supervision fee.
Source: https://herit.ag/3rETKQU
Mario Manuel Medrano, of Hildago County, pleaded guilty to one count of illegally voting in a 2008 school district election despite being a convicted felon. Medrano was sentenced to two years' imprisonment. He was separately convicted on theft and aggravated assault charges, and served his sentence for all convictions concurrently.
Source: Case No. 09-09-10117 CR (Information obtained from the Office of the Attorney General of Texas), bit.ly/2TqfOzP
Andrea Campos Bierstedt, a former member of the Freer City Council, was given pre-trial diversion after she was charged with illegally possessing a ballot belonging to another voter and "assisting" in filling it out. She was also ordered to pay a $3,500 donation to the county.
Source: https://herit.ag/2VfJt14, https://herit.ag/3l1NaCH
Zaida Cantu Bueno, a politiquera in South Texas, pleaded guilty to absentee ballot fraud. Bueno was involved in vote-harvesting schemes in which she would illegally "assist" voters in filling out absentee ballots. Bueno received a 180-day suspended jail sentence and one year of probation, and was ordered to complete 40 hours of community service and pay a $200 fine.
Source: https://herit.ag/370azw2, https://herit.ag/3BNfq1F, https://herit.ag/3f2SDVU
Maria Mendoza Garcia was given a 12-month pre-trial diversion after she was charged with seven counts of knowingly providing false information on an application to receive an early voting ballot. In addition, she was ordered to complete 80 hours of community service and pay a $60 supervision fee.
Source: https://herit.ag/3ycAgWe
Ruben Trevino Garcia pleaded guilty to voting illegally in a 2008 school district election. Garcia was a convicted felon and therefore ineligible to vote. He received a suspended sentence of eight years' imprisonment in a Texas correctional facility, was placed under community supervision for eight years, and was ordered to pay a $500 fine.
Source: https://herit.ag/2VjqjI0
Christina Lichtenberger pleaded guilty to illegally possessing an absentee ballot belonging to another voter and illegally "assisting" in filling it out. Lichtenberger received one year of deferred adjudication, and was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and court costs.
Source: bit.ly/2tvHEeM, bit.ly/2tNPoeD, bit.ly/2uPKISp
Cynthia Lopez, of Live Oak County, pleaded guilty to one count of absentee ballot fraud after she unlawfully possessed other voters' absentee ballots in the 2008 primary election. She was sentenced to a 180-day suspended sentence, one year of probation, and was ordered to complete 40 hours of community service and pay a $200 fine.
Source: https://herit.ag/2USO7Cx, https://herit.ag/374MLHm
Norma Lopez, of Live Oak County, Texas, pleaded guilty to absentee ballot fraud after she unlawfully collected other voters' absentee ballots during the 2008 primary election. She was sentenced to a 180-day suspended jail sentence, one year of probation, and was ordered to complete 40 hours of community service and pay a $200 fine.
Source: https://herit.ag/3i5A7Or
Raul Pena Jr., Starr County Commissioner, pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges that he illegally returned a marked ballot and that he mailed a ballot belonging to another vote. The charges stem from an incident in which Pena delivered 56 ballots to a local post office. Postal officials found it suspicious that Pena possessed so many ballots, yet none were signed by Pena as the law requires of those who assist voters. He was sentenced to six months of community supervision, received a 180 day suspended jail sentence, and was ordered to pay a $500 fine.
Source: https://herit.ag/2WrcPdH, https://herit.ag/3i73ksr, https://herit.ag/3iS6Vty
Leland Mac Coffman, of Hill County, pleaded guilty to three counts of making "false reports to a peace officer." Coffman revealed the results of a 2007 municipal and school district race prior to polls closing, and then made a false report to a peace officer about his actions. Coffman was sentenced to 90 days in jail, which was probated, was given two years of probation, and ordered to pay a $2,000 fine.
Source: Case No. M0593-09 (Information obtained from the Office of the Attorney General of Texas)
Jack Carol Crowder pleaded guilty to one count of fraudulent use of identifying information. Crowder impersonated his deceased father in the 2008 Democratic primary in Harris County. Crowder used his father's registration card to cast a ballot in his name. He was sentenced to one year of deferred adjudication and ordered to pay a $200 fine.
Source: https://herit.ag/3y9yt48, https://herit.ag/3zHOOxq
Oralia Frausto was sentenced for his role in a scheme that involved registering fake voters to vacant lots during the 2006 Democratic Primary. The goal was to submit a large number of mail-in ballots. He received a pre-trial diversion.
Source: https://herit.ag/2VheYb3, https://herit.ag/3l2zRBK
Maria Gonzalez was sentenced for her role in a scheme that involved registering fake voters to vacant lots during the 2006 Democratic Primary. The goal was to submit a large number of mail-in ballots. She received pre-trial diversion.
Source: https://herit.ag/3xaVZMN, https://herit.ag/3zENrzo
Elizabeth Martinez pleaded guilty to voting illegally in a 2007 municipal election. Martinez, a convicted felon, was ineligible to vote. She was sentenced to five years' imprisonment in a Texas Department of Criminal Justice corrections facility.
Source: https://herit.ag/3xcAJ9o
Paulito Nilo pleaded guilty to one count of voting despite being a felon. Nilo cast his illegal vote in the 2008 municipal election. He was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, probated to five years of community supervision. He served one day in jail and was ordered to pay a $500 fine.
Source: https://herit.ag/3rCNt7Y
Cynthia Pena pleaded guilty to one count of illegal voting. Pena, a convicted felon, voted in a 2007 municipal and school election despite being ineligible. She received a suspended 10-year prison sentence, four years of community supervision, and was ordered to pay a $500 fine.
Source: https://herit.ag/3BEYuKG
Raul Reyna pleaded guilty to one count of illegal voting. Reyna, a convicted felon, voted in a 2007 municipal and school election despite being ineligible. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment in a Texas Department of Criminal Justice corrections facility and was ordered to pay a $500 fine.
Source: https://herit.ag/3kYteAw
Guadalupe Rios pleaded guilty to eleven counts of illegally possessing a ballot without the voter's consent. She was sentenced to 60 days' house arrest, four years of probation, and was ordered to pay a $500 fine.
Source: https://herit.ag/3iSGRyD
Mark Littlefield, of Hays County, was charged with one count of illegal possession of a forged instrument stemming from forgery and document tampering conducted during a 2006 special election. He was admitted to a one-year pretrial diversion program, and was ordered to make a $300 donation.
Source: Case No. 89, 298 (Information obtained from the Office of the Attorney General of Texas)
Elva Gutierrez Lazo, a former Duval County precinct secretary, pleaded guilty to one count of illegally possessing another's ballot during the 2006 primary election. Lazo and others helped voters to register to receive absentee ballots by falsely claiming they were disabled. She later returned to collect and mail the absentee votes. Lazo received one year of deferred adjudication and one year of community supervision, and was ordered to pay a $300 fine.
Source: https://herit.ag/2Wi1pc0, https://herit.ag/3ycCLrp
Jami Parkinson Billings, of Goliad County, illegally revealed the results of a 2008 municipal election before the vote had concluded. Billings pleaded nolo contendere to one count of "unlawfully revealing information before polls close," was sentenced to two years of deferred adjudication, and was ordered to pay a $3,000 fine and complete two years of community supervision.
Source: Case No. 08-8-8967 CR (Information obtained from the Office of the Attorney General of Texas)
Jose Rene Gomez pleaded guilty to one count of illegal voting. Gomez was implicated in a scheme to register phony voters at vacant lots in an effort to receive and submit a large number of mail-in ballots for the 2006 Democratic Primary. Gomez was also charged with voting twice in that election. He was sentenced to two years of deferred adjudication, two years of community supervision, and was ordered to pay a $300 fine.
Source: https://herit.ag/2Vf1DAa, https://herit.ag/3zMyxr3
Lydia Molina, then-Treasurer for Duval County, pleaded guilty to one count of illegally possessing another's ballot during the 2006 primary election. Molina and others helped voters to register to receive absentee ballots by falsely claiming they were disabled. She later returned to collect and mail the absentee votes. Molina received one year of deferred adjudication and one year of community supervision, and was ordered to pay a $300 fine.
Source: https://herit.ag/370awjQ, https://herit.ag/3rDeQPh
Oscar Rios pleaded guilty to 12 counts of illegally possessing a ballot without a voter's consent. Rios was involved in a scheme to register phony voters at vacant lots in an effort to receive and submit a large number of mail-in ballots for the 2006 Democratic Primary. He was sentenced to two years of deferred adjudication, two years of community supervision, and was ordered to pay a $300 fine.
Source: https://herit.ag/3y3Bxi9, https://herit.ag/3zFrFeJ
Maria Soriano, then-head of the Duval Welfare Department, pleaded guilty to one count of illegally possessing another's ballot during the 2006 primary election. Soriano and others helped voters register to receive absentee ballots by falsely claiming they were disabled. She later returned to collect and mail the absentee votes. Soriano received one year of deferred adjudication and one year of community supervision, and was ordered to pay a $300 fine.
Source: https://herit.ag/2VdbWVA, https://herit.ag/378DL3K
Maria Adelina Trigo, a former Duval County welfare clerk, pleaded guilty to one count of illegally possessing a ballot that was not her own during the 2006 primary election. Trigo and others helped voters to register to receive absentee ballots by falsely claiming they were disabled. Trigo later returned to collect and mail the absentee vote. She received one year of deferred adjudication and one year of community supervision, and was ordered to pay a $300 fine.
Source: https://herit.ag/2UTvAGe
A former Port Lavaca city councilwoman was sentenced to five years in prison for registering non-citizens to vote and tampering with government documents. During the trial, she acknowledged that she did not ask registrants about their citizenship, nor did she inform them that only United States citizens are eligible to vote. Illegal voting is a third-degree felony.
Source: https://herit.ag/3nuYTcp
Raymond Villarreal, the then-County Commissioner of Refugio, pleaded guilty to charges related to a scheme to rig the absentee vote in his favor during his 2006 primary race for commissioner. Villarreal first had registered voters request absentee ballots, but then routed the ballots to known supporters who would vote for Villarreal. He then had the original applicants sign the ballots. He was sentenced to 90 days in the county jail and given five years of probation. He was also ordered to complete 300 hours of community service and pay $2,500 in fines. Villarreal was forced to resign.
Source: https://herit.ag/3zH53L3
Melinda Hunter was indicted on seven counts of illegally possessing and transporting ballots not belonging to her. Hunter illegally assisted elderly voters in preparing their ballots. She was placed in a six-month pre-trial diversion program.
Source: https://herit.ag/3l1INHv
Josefina Marinas Suarez pleaded guilty to a charge of handling an official ballot belonging to another. During the 2005 Robstown school district election Suarez targeted elderly voters, soliciting votes and returning the absentee ballots herself. Under Texas law, she was not permitted to handle or transport absentee ballots. Suarez was sentenced to one year of deferred adjudication probation and a $500 fine.
Source: https://herit.ag/3rKEfXC
Trinidad Villalobos was convicted by a jury of illegally possessing and transporting ballots belonging to multiple voters during the 2004 primary. According to witnesses, Villalobos offered to assist elderly voters fill out applications for absentee ballots and would later collect and mail those ballots. Unauthorized possession of ballots is a misdemeanor under Texas law. Villalobos received six months of probation for each charge.
Source: https://herit.ag/3x9300o
Virginia Ramos Garza, of Nueces County, was charged with four counts of "possessing an official ballot or carrier envelope of another." In a 2005 school district election, she targeted the elderly by going door-to-door to obtain votes, and then took the ballots to the post office for mailing. She was admitted into a one-year pretrial diversion program, which included 12 months of community supervision. Garza conspired to engage in vote harvesting with Elida Garza Flores, Isabel Rios Gonzalez, and Josefina Marinas Suarez, all of whom were charged and ultimately admitted into diversion programs or received deferred adjudications.
Source: Case No. 05-CR-9806-4 (Information obtained from the Office of the Attorney General of Texas), bit.ly/2GT3PVA
Anita Baeza was given six months of pre-trial diversion after she was charged with five counts of illegally possessing another's ballot during the 2004 primary.
Source: https://herit.ag/3zENpHM
Elida Garza Flores, of Nueces County, was charged with one count of "possessing of an official ballot or carrier envelope of another." In a 2005 school district election, she targeted the elderly by going door-to-door to obtain votes, and then took the ballots to the post office for mailing. She was admitted into a one-year pretrial diversion program, which included 12 months of community supervision. She conspired to engage in vote harvesting with Virginia Ramos Garza, Isabel Rios Gonzalez, and Josefina Marinas Suarez, all of whom were charged and ultimately admitted into diversion programs or received deferred adjudications.
Source: Case No. 05-CR-9805-4 (Information obtained from the Office of the Attorney General of Texas), bit.ly/2GT3PVA
Maria Dora Flores pleaded guilty to engaging in illegal "assistance" at the polls during the 2006 Democratic primary election. Prosecutors charged that Flores escorted several voters into their polling locations and then filled out and submitted ballots without their consent. The judge sentenced Flores to a $750 fine and two years of deferred probation. In a statement discussing the case, then Attorney General Greg Abbott remarked that, "Those who perpetrate voter fraud are victimizing and intimidating the elderly. This violates the law and is simply another form of elder abuse."
Source: https://herit.ag/3i8Z0sU, https://herit.ag/3l35ZW8
Isabel Rios Gonzalez, of Nueces County, entered a plea of nolo contendere to two counts of "possessing of an official ballot or carrier envelope of another." In a 2005 school district election, she targeted the elderly by going door-to-door to obtain votes, and then took the ballots to the post office for mailing. She was sentenced to one year of deferred adjudication, 12 months of community supervision, and was ordered to pay a $500 fine. She conspired to engage in vote harvesting with Virginia Ramos Garza, Elida Garza Flores, and Josefina Marinas Suarez, all of whom were charged and ultimately admitted into diversion programs or received deferred adjudications.
Source: Case No. 05-CR-9808-3 (Information obtained from the Office of the Attorney General of Texas), bit.ly/2GT3PVA
Willie Ray, a Texarkana Ward 2 City Councilwoman, and Jamillah Johnson pleaded guilty to fraudulent use of absentee ballots during the 2004 general election. The two women illegally assisted elderly and other voters in submitting applications for mail-in ballots, then collected and mailed in the completed ballots for the voters. This assistance is a Class B misdemeanor under Texas law. The judge fined Willie Ray $200 and sentenced her to eight months of probation. Jamillah Johnson received a $200 fine and six months of probation.
Source: bit.ly/2fcgEMG, bit.ly/2f26dIi
Melva Kay Ponce was convicted for mailing in an absentee ballot for her deceased mother in the November 2004 general election. She pleaded guilty to one charge of illegal voter registration and was sentenced to two years of deferred adjudication and ordered to pay a $1,500 fine.
Source: https://herit.ag/2WlQZrP, https://herit.ag/3x92VK8
Johnny Wayne Akers, of Hardeman County, was charged with six counts of "possession of an official ballot or carrier envelope of another" for engaging in vote harvesting activities during a 2004 primary election in Texas. He pleaded guilty to possession of an official ballot, and was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to pay a $2,000 fine.
Source: Case No. 013449 (Information obtained from the Office of the Attorney General of Texas)
