Election Fraud Cases

Mark Littlefield

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)

Jami Parkinson Billings

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)

Zachary Millett, Brandon Ellsworth, and Charles Rich

Zachary Millet, Brandon Ellsworth, and Charles Rich pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor attempt to fraudulently register to vote in a 2006 election for sheriff. The small county of Daggett (population 900) saw 28 others placed in a diversionary program for misdemeanor fraud committed in the same election. Each of these three defendants was sentenced to 30 days in jail (suspended) and fined $500 as part of a diversion agreement.

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

Todd Stuart McGuire

Todd Stuart McGuire, of Port Townsend, was ordered to participate in a diversion program that includes five years of supervision. McGuire cast a ballot in his wife's name in a 2007 special election. He agreed to an order that "facts sufficient for a guilty" finding existed in his case. McGuire was barred from voting during the five-year supervision period.

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

Randell Lee Cole

Randell Lee Cole was admitted into the Jefferson County "Friendship" Diversion Program following charges that Cole had illegally voted in the 2008 primary election. Cole, a felon, was ineligible to cast a ballot.

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

Mickensey Oliveria

Mickensey Oliveria pleaded no contest to ballot petition fraud. Oliveria was charged with providing a false affidavit for a referendum or recall petition or the signatures appended thereto.

Source: https://herit.ag/3f4rYIq, Superior Court of California, Case #1090738

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

James Bryant, Jr.

James Bryant, Jr. admitted to improperly assisting voters in completing their absentee ballots in the 2005 Americus mayoral election. Bryant was a candidate in that election, and on at least six occasions, he helped voters fill out information on their ballot mailers without signing the requisite oath indicating he had provided the assistance. He was ordered by the State Election Board to pay a $600 fine.

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

Jerry Metts

Jerry Metts was investigated for helping illegal aliens cast absentee ballots in Atkinson County during a 2004 county commission election. He was fined $80,000 by the State Election Board.

Source: https://herit.ag/3i5A05t

Elizabeth Dag Um Keathley

Elizabeth Dag Um Keathley came to the United States after marrying John Keathley, a U.S. citizen, in a ceremony that took place in the Philippines. She received a non-immigrant K-3 visa so that she could live with her husband while waiting for a grant of permanent residency as the spouse of a U.S. citizen. While considering her application, immigration officials determined that Keathley illegally voted and ordered her removal from the country. She contends that, when applying for a driver's license, she was asked if she wished to vote. After answering "yes," the official handling her driver's license application check marked the box indicating she was a U.S. citizen. Keathley indicated she was not. The Seventh Circuit remanded the case to the lower court for further review.

Source: https://herit.ag/3zIBE3a, https://herit.ag/3y7GZkc, https://herit.ag/3nsE41b

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

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