Election Fraud Cases

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StateVirginiaYear2021NameJonathan Meade West Sr.Case TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeDuplicate Voting

Jonathan Meade West, Sr., of Hayes, was charged with a felony for attempting to cast two ballots in the 2020 general election. West first voted absentee at the Gloucester County Voter Register's office. He then returned four days later and tried to cast a second ballot. He was stopped from casting a second ballot when the election worker checked his information using a back-up to the VERIS (Virginia Election Registration Information System) system since it was not working that day. He was convicted of an amended misdemeanor charge of obtaining services under false pretense after attempting to vote twice. West, a self-described "unabashed conservative," was sentenced to a suspended sentence of 12 months, fined $500, and ordered to pay $96 in court costs.

Source: https://herit.ag/375VNDP, https://herit.ag/3f2SNN0

StateVirginiaYear2020NameLauren Creekmore PeabodyCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeBallot Petition Fraud

Lauren C. Peabody, of Virginia Beach, worked as a campaign staffer for the GOP candidate in the 2nd Congressional District of VA. In that role, she signed off on petition signatures, that she did not witness, to get Shaun Brown, a Democrat, on the ballot as an Independent in order to take away votes from the Democratic nominee (her boss's main opponent). The signatures were forgeries of deceased individuals and former residents. She was charged with two counts of election fraud and pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of "willful neglect of election duty." She received a 12-month suspended sentence based on a year of good behavior and was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine.

Source: https://herit.ag/3BMDxh2

StateVirginiaYear2018NameRichard Douglas DohmenCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

Richard Douglas Dohmen, of James City County, committed voter fraud when he attempted to cast ballots for both himself and his dead wife in a 2018 state election. Dohmen was charged with forging public records and making false statements on required forms, and pleaded guilty to making false statements on required forms. He was sentenced to 1 year in the penitentiary, 3 years of unsupervised probation, and was ordered to pay a $458 fine.

Source: Case Number: CR19028447-00, https://herit.ag/3x2tbWI

StateVirginiaYear2018NameCassandra Amber Marie RitterCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeIneligible Voting

Cassandra Ritter, a felon convicted on heroin distribution charges, cast a ballot despite being an ineligible voter due to her prior conviction. Ritter pleaded guilty and received a suspended two-year prison sentence and two years of supervised probation.

Source: https://herit.ag/3i71YxX

StateVirginiaYear2018NameShaun BrownCase TypeJudicial FindingFraud TypeBallot Petition Fraud

Shaun Brown, a candidate for the Virginia 2nd Congressional District, was removed from the ballot in the lead-up to the 2018 election after a judge ruled that signatures on the petition to get her on the ballot had been forged. Brown, who ran and lost as a Democrat in 2016, was running as an Independent. Democrats in Virginia filed the suit against Brown, claiming that Republican incumbent Representative Scott Taylor's campaign hoped to get Brown on the ballot to bolster Taylor's own re-election chances. All of the petition signatures submitted by Taylor's staff were thrown out due to errors and forgeries. Brown appealed, but the Virginia Supreme Court upheld her removal from the ballot. An investigation into the alleged forgeries by Taylor campaign staff is ongoing. In the midst of the election drama, Brown was convicted on unrelated charges that she defrauded a federal program intended to serve summer meals to children.

Source: https://herit.ag/3l3HxUq, https://herit.ag/3xbrxC6, https://herit.ag/3zGQyXI

StateVirginiaYear2017NameVafalay MassaquoiCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFalse Registrations

Vafalay Massaquoi pleaded guilty to one count of falsifying voter registration applications and two counts of forging a public record. While working for New Virginia Majority, a liberal advocacy group, Massaquoi filed voter applications for completely made-up Alexandria residents. An Alexandria official noticed the voter applications were all filled out in the same handwriting and turned the documents over to the authorities. Massaquoi was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for each count. His sentences were set to run concurrently and will be suspended pending his good behavior. He was also sentenced to 500 hours of community service.

Source: https://herit.ag/373qeut, https://herit.ag/3rB1R0L

StateVirginiaYear2017NameAndrew J. SpielesCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFalse Registrations

Andrew Spieles pleaded guilty to charges stemming from his submission of eighteen fraudulent voter registrations in connection with the 2016 presidential election. While working for Harrisonburg Votes, a voter registration organization affiliated with the Democratic Party, Spieles falsified voter registration information. In some cases, he registered deceased individuals. In others, he fabricated information about residents so he could submit applications without their approval. Spieles was sentenced to 100 days' imprisonment.

Source: https://herit.ag/3rAyATU, https://herit.ag/3y9dz5b, https://herit.ag/3ba1QcC

StateVirginiaYear2016NameMary P. TaylorCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeMiscellaneous

Mary P. Taylor was found guilty of a misdemeanor charge of "communicating false information to registered voters." Taylor, a critic of the Hampton school board, designed a fake website registered in the name of Ann Stephens Cherry, a candidate for the board, which endorsed incumbent Martha Mugler. On the website, Taylor posted a fake election date that fell one week after the real election. The Judge sentenced Taylor to 100 hours of community service and imposed a $1,000 fine.

Source: https://herit.ag/3i9HGUB, https://herit.ag/3iQEb4t

StateVirginiaYear2016NameWilliam "Billy" Everett Mills…Case TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFalse Registrations

When Billy Mills ran for sheriff in Nelson County, he submitted a candidate qualification form with an address in that county. It was later uncovered that Mills did not live at the address he provided and was not a resident of Nelson County. This was a clear violation of state law that requires all members of government to be residents in the district over which they preside. Mills was originally charged with a Class 5 felony. As part of a plea deal, it was reduced to a misdemeanor. He was sentenced to six month suspended sentence.

Source: bit.ly/2evkZsS

StateVirginiaYear2014NameStephen HalesCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeIneligible Voting

Stephen Hales, of Albemarle, a convicted felon and an ineligible voter, was convicted of voting in a 2014 state election. Hales plead guilty to charges of providing a false statement on a required form and wrongful voting. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail and ordered to pay an $86 fine.

Source: https://herit.ag/373gEb1, Case Number: GC15007564-00

StateVirginiaYear2014NameGregory John BriehlCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeIneligible Voting

Gregory John Briehl, of Albemarle, a convicted felon and an ineligible voter, was convicted of making a false statement on his voting records. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail and ordered to pay an $86 fine.

Source: https://herit.ag/2URz6kg, Case Number: GC15007564-00

StateVirginiaYear2013NameAdam WardCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeBallot Petition Fraud

Adam Ward, an employee of the Gingrich presidential campaign, pleaded guilty to 36 counts of voter fraud, as well as perjury after admitting that he forged signatures during the drive to get Gingrich on the Virginia primary ballot. Out of 11,000 signatures collected by Ward, 4,000 could not be confirmed.

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

StateVirginiaYear2013NameJennifer DerreberyCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeBallot Petition Fraud

Jennifer Derrebery, of Bassett, pleaded guilty to felony counts of election fraud and perjury after she produced hundreds of fraudulent signatures on a petition to get Newt Gingrich on the ballot for the Republican presidential nomination. She received a 10-year suspended sentence and five years' probation, and she was required to pay $1,266 in court costs.

Source: bit.ly/2tNyIQA, bit.ly/2tNTKyL, Augusta County Circuit Court, Cases CR13000083-00, CR13000084-00

StateVirginiaYear2012NameMichael Anthony HarrisCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFalse Registrations

Michael Anthony Harris, a convicted felon, pleaded guilty to illegally registering to vote and subsequently voting in the 2008 election. Harris was sentenced to four days in jail.

Source: https://herit.ag/3i5Ik5i, https://herit.ag/3l1N4Ll

StateVirginiaYear2012NameFeda MortonCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeBallot Petition Fraud

Feda Morton, a former congressional candidate, pleaded guilty to falsifying a campaign document after admitting that she convinced friends to sign a petition to get a favored political candidate on the ballot for a 2011 election. Submitting the signatures for notarization, Morton attested to having personally witnessed the signatures even though she hadn't. Morton was sentenced to probation.

Source: https://herit.ag/2ZkXMDK, https://herit.ag/31526b9

StateVirginiaYear2012NameSheila PetersonCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFalse Registrations

Sheila Peterson, of Chesterfield County, Virginia, pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice, a charge that had been reduced from a felony count of making a false statement on an election form. Peterson, a convicted felon, certified that she was eligible to vote on a registration form for the 2008 election. Peterson, who was incarcerated prior to sentencing because of a failed drug test, was sentenced to time served.

Source: bit.ly/2yu3Gkf

StateVirginiaYear2011NameJames HalfadayCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFalse Registrations

James Halfaday pleaded guilty to a felony election fraud after admitting that he lied about his residency while running for Charlottesville City Council. Halfaday received a five-year prison sentence, with all but 60 days suspended. He was ordered to complete 40 hours of community service.

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

StateVirginiaYear2010NameBonnie NicholsonCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeIneligible Voting

Bonnie Nicholson, of Louisa County, Virginia, pleaded guilty to two counts of election fraud in 2010. She illegally registered to vote and cast a ballot in the 2008 presidential election, despite the fact that she was ineligible due to a felony conviction. Nicholson was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment, which was suspended.

Source: https://herit.ag/3f2SLom, https://herit.ag/3BLKw9Z, https://herit.ag/3iSpRse

StateVirginiaYear2010NameBernard PaceCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeIneligible Voting

Bernard Pace pleaded guilty to charges of election fraud and forgery. Pace voted in the 2008 election despite being a felon and therefore ineligible. He was sentenced to a five year suspended prison term.

Source: https://herit.ag/3CmrcA0, https://herit.ag/3Go5TR3

StateVirginiaYear2007NameBen Cooper and 14 co-conspiratorsCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeBuying Votes, Fraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

Former Appalachia mayor Ben Cooper and 14 others were convicted of voter fraud after conspiring to manipulate the 2004 elections in his town by buying the votes of residents, offering them cigarettes, beer, and pork rinds. He and his supporters also stole absentee ballots from the mail. This was the largest voter fraud conspiracy to date in Virginia. Cooper was sentenced to 10 years in prison, but the term was suspended after he served two years in jail and another two years in electronic home monitoring detention. Most of the other 14 defendants received suspended sentences or house arrest.

Source: https://herit.ag/3jY1St9, https://herit.ag/3EmHZnf

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.”