Election Fraud Cases

John McCarthy

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

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

Charles Powell, Sheila Thomas, Jesse Lewis, Kelvin Ellis, and Yvette Johnson

East Saint Louis City precinct committeemen Charles Powell, Sheila Thomas, Jesse Lewis, and Kelvin Ellis, as well as precinct worker Yvette Johnson, were convicted for conspiracy to commit election fraud after participating in vote-buying activities in the 2004 election, including submitting budgets that would allow city funds to pay voters to vote for Democratic candidates. Powell was sentenced to 21 months in prison; Thomas was sentenced to 18 months in prison, $400 in fines, and two years' supervised release; Johnson was sentenced to two years' probation with the first five months in monitored home confinement; Lewis was sentenced to 15 months in prison, two years' supervised release, and $200 in fines; Ellis was sentenced to a 4.5 year prison sentence for election fraud and assorted criminal offenses, including running a prostitution ring out of city hall and threatening to kill a federal witness.

Source: https://herit.ag/3l9XAjo, https://herit.ag/3i8YTxu

Ashley Dunlop

Mr. Ashley Dunlop pleaded guilty to the charge of aiding the fraudulent application of a ballot in connection to misconduct surrounding the 2003 East Chicago Democratic mayoral primary election. He was sentenced to one year probation. Fraud in this 2003 mayoral primary was widespread, and the Indiana Supreme Court ultimately overturned the election results and ordered a special election that resulted in a different winner.

Source: https://herit.ag/3i79ZTF

John Carlyle and Ronald Komendat

John Carlyle and Ronald Komendat, a former police officer, both pleaded guilty to voting in precincts where they did not reside in the 2003 East Chicago mayoral Democratic primary election. Both received six-month suspended sentences and were ordered to perform 40 hours of community service. Fraud in this 2003 mayoral primary was widespread, and the Indiana Supreme Court ultimately overturned the election results and ordered a special election that resulted in a different winner.

Source: https://herit.ag/3iOfS7c

Ricardo Alamillo

Ricardo Alamillo, a former East Chicago assistant chief bailiff, was convicted of voting in another precinct for the 2003 East Chicago Democratic mayoral primary and received a one-and-a-half year suspended sentence and another one-and-a-half years of probation. Fraud in this 2003 mayoral primary was widespread, and the Indiana Supreme Court ultimately overturned the election results and ordered a special election that resulted in a different winner.

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

Tonya Griffin-Bronaugh

Tonya Griffin-Bronaugh, the sister of Terrance Lay, pleaded guilty to filling out and signing an application for an absentee ballot in the name of her former husband without his knowledge in connection with the 2003 East Chicago Democratic primary. Her brother was a city council candidate in that election. Griffin-Bronaugh was sentenced to 18 months of probation. Fraud in this 2003 mayoral primary was widespread, and the Indiana Supreme Court ultimately overturned the election results and ordered a special election for the mayoral race that resulted in a different winner.

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

Alicia Dunbar and Ivan Dunbar

Alicia and Ivan Dunbar pleaded guilty to voting in another precinct for the 2003 East Chicago Democratic mayoral primary and were given one year of probation. Fraud in this 2003 mayoral primary was widespread, and the Indiana Supreme Court ultimately overturned the election results and ordered a special election that resulted in a different winner.

Source: https://herit.ag/3y83Bkv

Mark Orosco

Mark Orosco pleaded guilty to voting in another precinct for the 2003 East Chicago Democratic mayoral primary and received a one year suspended sentence, one year of probation, and 100 hours of community service. Fraud in this 2003 mayoral primary was widespread, and the Indiana Supreme Court ultimately overturned the election results and ordered a special election that resulted in a different winner.

Source: https://herit.ag/3f4rZfs

Mario Del Valle

Mario Del Valle pleaded guilty to voting in another precinct for the 2003 East Chicago elections. He was sentenced to one year of probation and 30 hours of community service. Fraud in the 2003 mayoral primary was widespread, and the Indiana Supreme Court ultimately overturned the election results and ordered a special election for the mayoral race that resulted in a different winner.

Source: https://herit.ag/3rzE15u

Michael Harretos and Ezequiel Godinez

Michael Harretos and Ezequiel Godinez were sentenced to one year of probation, community service, and fines for voting in another precinct in the 2003 East Chicago election. Fraud in the 2003 mayoral primary was widespread, and the Indiana Supreme Court ultimately overturned the election results and ordered a special election for the mayoral race that resulted in a different winner.

Source: https://herit.ag/3iWBE8K

Arthur Vera, Elvia Vera, Armando Vera, Pedro Moro, and Yolanda Ramirez

Arthur, Elvia, and Armando Vera, Pedro Moro, and Yolanda Ramirez, pleaded guilty to voting in another precinct during the 2003 East Chicago Democratic primary. Fraud in this 2003 primary was widespread, and the Indiana Supreme Court ultimately overturned the election results and ordered a special election for the mayoral race that resulted in a different winner.

Source: https://herit.ag/3f4EZ4z

Jose Arroyo and Mabel Komendat

Jose Arroyo and Mabel Komendat were convicted of voting in another precinct after voting in an East Chicago election despite living in Hammond and Highland, respectively. They were both sentenced to one year probation and 50 hours of community service. Fraud in the 2003 East Chicago mayoral primary was widespread, and the Indiana Supreme Court ultimately overturned the election results and ordered a special election for the mayoral race that resulted in a different winner.

Source: https://herit.ag/3i9HxR3

Levones Tolbert

East Chicago Councilman Levones Tolbert was charged with offering money in exchange for votes, among other offenses. Tolbert pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of unauthorized polling place entry and was sentenced to 30 days' probation. Fraud in the 2003 East Chicago primary was widespread, and the Indiana Supreme Court ultimately overturned the election results and ordered a special election for the mayoral race that resulted in a different winner.

Source: https://herit.ag/2Vf1wVg

Allan "Twig" Simmons

Allan "Twig" Simmons, an operative for the Chicago mayor's campaign, was charged with three counts of attempted obstruction of justice and six counts of ballot fraud after persuading individuals to let him fill out their absentee ballots in exchange for jobs. He pleaded guilty to three counts of fraudulent application, showing, examination, receipt or delivery of ballots. He was sentenced to 3 years' probation and 100 hours of community service. Fraud in the 2003 East Chicago mayoral primary was widespread, and the Indiana Supreme Court ultimately overturned the election results and ordered a special election for the mayoral race that resulted in a different winner.

Source: https://herit.ag/3rANV6V

Raymond Carillo

Raymond Carillo pleaded guilty to one count of voting in a precinct in which he did not live for the 2003 East Chicago mayoral Democratic primary election. Fraud in this 2003 mayoral primary was widespread, and the Indiana Supreme Court ultimately overturned the election results and ordered a special election that resulted in a different winner.

Source: https://herit.ag/3f42NFH