Election Fraud Cases
Details
William Eschenbach was charged by the state with two felony counts of voting more than once after voting twice in the June 2022 primary and twice in the November 2022 election. He voted by absentee ballot and again in person on election day but claimed in social media posts that he did it to show how insecure absentee voting is. He pleaded guilty to one of the charges and was sentenced to 6 months of probation and ordered to complete 40 hours of community service and pay $500 in restitution.
Source: herit.ag/3WpMOb9 , herit.ag/3WoxPOL , herit.ag/3Lq11yu
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Jordahni Rimpel was charged by the state with one felony count of attempt to influence a public servant and one misdemeanor count of perjury after submitting fraudulent signatures for a Republican candidate ballot petition in the 2022 Republican primary for the 7th congressional district. Rimpel was a circulator with the Oregon-based firm Grassfire LLC which was paid to gather the required 1,500 signatures for Republican candidate Carl Anderson to qualify for the ballot. Rimpel submitted petitions with the forged signatures of voters, including deceased voters and voters who had moved out of state prior to the petition being circulated. Rimpel pleaded guilty to both charges and received a two-year deferred judgement and sentence for the felony count. He was sentenced to 10 days in jail, fined $500, ordered to pay $3,557.41 for extradition costs, and was made to write letters of apology to the Colorado Secretary of State and Candidate Carl Anderson.
Source: herit.ag/3LqQjYq , herit.ag/4f5ZxHm , herit.ag/469x4wc
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Diana Watt was charged by the state with one felony count of attempt to influence a public servant, one misdemeanor count of perjury, and one misdemeanor count of tampering with nominating papers after submitting fraudulent signatures for a candidate ballot petition in the 2022 Republican primary for the 7th congressional district. Watt was a circulator with the Oregon-based firm Grassfire LLC, which was paid to gather the required 1,500 signatures for Republican candidate Carl Andersen to qualify for the ballot. Watt submitted petitions with the forged signatures of voters, including deceased voters and voters who had moved out of state prior to the petition being circulated. She pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of tampering with nominating papers, in exchange for dismissal of the other charges, and was sentenced to 6 months of unsupervised probation (which could be reduced to 90 days if all court costs and fine are paid), and assessed $4,025.41 in court costs and fines.
Source: https://herit.ag/4esixhX
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Robert Anzulewicz was charged by the state in Routt County with one misdemeanor count of mail ballot offense in the 2022 general election. Anzulewicz forged and submitted an absentee ballot on behalf of his mother. He also submitted an absentee ballot for himself and attempted to vote again in person. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 20 days in jail, 2 years of probation, and assessed fees totaling $1,245.
Source: herit.ag/3W2l4Ie , herit.ag/4cLGfW2 , herit.ag/46dstJl , herit.ag/46dsoW3
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Michael DeFilippo, a Bridgeport City councilman and Democrat Party-endorsed candidate, was charged by the federal government with one count of conspiracy against rights, 3 counts of identity theft, and 11 counts of fraudulent registration after conspiring with others to request and submit fraudulent absentee ballots to be elected to the Bridgeport City Council during the 2017 and 2018 primary elections and the 2018 general election, which he won. DeFilippo, and others acting at his direction, fraudulently submitted Democratic political party affiliation applications and falsely registered and submitted absentee ballots on behalf of local university students who rented properties from DeFilippo. In some cases, he and the conspirators would assist his tenants with applications and in others, he would alter or forge party affiliation applications or request absentee ballots on their behalf, knowing those tenants did not meet criteria to vote absentee. In some cases, DeFilippo stole ballots from his tenants which he and his co-conspirators would fill out and fraudulently sign. DeFilippo, who resigned from the City Council after he was indicted, pleaded guilty to one felony count of deprivation of rights under color of law in exchange for dismissal of the other charges and is awaiting sentencing.
Source: herit.ag/3WpCK1L , herit.ag/3WnTOFw , herit.ag/3Ydb6ql , herit.ag/3WBrIqB
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Louis Palmieri was charged by the state in Brevard County with one felony count of false swearing in voting or elections and one felony count of unqualified elector willfully voting in the 2020 election. Palmieri, who registered as a Republican, was a convicted felon for lewd behavior with a child under 16 and his right to vote had not been restored. Palmieri pleaded no contest to both counts and was sentenced to 6 months of probation on each charge, to be served concurrently, and ordered to pay fines and fees totaling $627.
Source: https://herit.ag/4gv34zG , https://herit.ag/4e8g0K1 , https://herit.ag/3ZzBNWH , https://herit.ag/3MRB37W , https://herit.ag/3TCHMpX
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Leo Grant Jr. was charged by the state in Palm Beach County with one felony count of false affirmation in voting or elections and one felony count of voting by an unqualified elector for illegally voting in the 2020 election. Grant was a convicted felon and his right to vote had not been restored. He pleaded guilty to the felony charges, was sentenced to one day in jail with credit for one day served and 6 months of probation, and assessed fees totaling $5,506.59.
Source: https://herit.ag/3BkcWMo , https://herit.ag/4d873zi , https://herit.ag/4ewhmOy , https://herit.ag/47vCjqP , https://herit.ag/3zrKO9O
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Samunta Shomine Pittman was charged by the state in Fulton County with 70 counts of felony fraudulent entries under O.C.G.A. §21-2-562(a). Specifically, Pittman filled out or let others fill out fictitious names on voter registration applications while canvassing in June 2018 for the Coalition for the People's Agenda, a left-wing advocacy group. Pittman pleaded guilty to the felony charges and was sentenced to 3 years of probation on each count, to be served concurrently, and ordered to pay a probation supervision fee and a $50 public defender fee.
Source: https://herit.ag/3MTazD6 , https://herit.ag/3TvepFR , https://herit.ag/3XArgYC , https://herit.ag/3XR3Q2s
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Brian Pritchard, a First Vice Chair of the Republican state party, was sanctioned by the Georgia State Board of Elections for voting at least 9 times while ineligible from 2008 to 2010. Pritchard was convicted of felony check forgery in Pennsylvania in 1996 and was placed on probation for three years, which was extended for various reasons until 2011. In 2008, Pritchard registered to vote in Georgia, despite still being on probation for the felony charges. He voted a total of nine times in primary, general and runoff elections between 2008 and 2010. An administrative law judge found Pritchard had violated Georgia law by voting as a convicted felon who had not finished serving his sentence. The State Election Board approved the judge’s findings and imposed $5,000 in civil penalties (a $500 penalty and $500 for each voting offense), $375.14 in investigative costs, and a public reprimand. He was subsequently removed from his position in the Republican party.
Source: herit.ag/3YdnBlL , herit.ag/3Y8U8JI , herit.ag/4bN9vdJ
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Kevin Dorland of Osceola, Iowa, was charged by the state with 7 felony counts of election misconduct in the first degree. Dorland did not live at the address he listed when he registered to vote for a slew of elections between 2017-2021, including the November 2021 mayoral election for Osceola. That election ended in a tie and the winner was decided by drawing a name out of a candy dish. Dorland pleaded guilty to three felony charges in exchange for dismissal of the other charges. He received a deferred judgement for the felony charges and was sentenced to two years of probation and fined $1,025.
Source: https://herit.ag/3zu0IAn , https://herit.ag/4ewheyy , https://herit.ag/4etwJHH
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Leslie Jackson, of Barren County, was charged by the state with one felony count of wrongful registration after her participation in a conspiracy by the Jackson family to bribe voters or obtain blank ballots from registered voters to help elect James "Darrell" Jackson, a Monroe County Constable, to the position of Monroe County Jailor, during the 2022 Republican primary election. The fraud was uncovered after a tip was submitted to the Attorney General's Election Fraud Hotline. Jackson pleaded guilty to the felony charge and was sentenced to one year, suspended for a period of five years pending successful completion of probation.
Source: herit.ag/4dYrsZg , herit.ag/3X0k89e
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Mary Jackson, of Tompkinsville was charged by the state with one felony count of engaging in organized crime, one felony count of second degree forgery, and six felony counts of making or receiving expenditures for voting after her participation in a conspiracy by the Jackson family to bribe voters or obtain blank ballots from registered voters to help elect James "Darrell" Jackson, a Monroe County Constable, to the position of Monroe County Jailor during the 2022 Republican primary election. The fraud was uncovered after a tip was submitted to the Attorney General's Election Fraud Hotline. Jackson pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced to six years, suspended for a period of five years pending successful completion of probation.
Source: herit.ag/4dYrsZg , herit.ag/3X0k89e
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James "Darrell" Jackson, a Monroe County Constable, was charged by the state with one felony count of engaging in organized crime and 5 felony counts of making or receiving expenditures for voting after participating in a conspiracy by the Jackson family scheme to bribe voters or obtain blank ballots from registered voter during the 2022 Republican primary election to help secure his election as Monroe County Jailor. Jackson conspired with at least six others in his scheme. After a tip was submitted to the Attorney General's Election Fraud Hotline, an investigation was started and uncovered the fraud. Jackson pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced to 6 years, with 5 years suspended pending successful completion of probation.
Source: herit.ag/4dYrsZg , herit.ag/3X0k89e
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Tommy McClendon, of Tompkinsville, was charged by the state with four felony counts of making or receiving expenditures for voting after his participation in a conspiracy by the Jackson family to bribe voters or obtain blank ballots from registered voters to help elect James "Darrell" Jackson, a Monroe County Constable, to the position of Monroe County Jailor during the 2022 Republican primary election. He pleaded guilty to all counts and entered a pretrial diversion program for a period of 5 years.
Source: herit.ag/4dYrsZg , herit.ag/3X0k89e
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Richard Rosen was charged by the state with one felony count of voting in more than one state after voting twice in the 2016 General Election. He voted by absentee ballot in Holderness, New Hampshire, before the election and again in person in Belmont, Massachusetts, on election day. Rosen was convicted following a jury trial and was sentenced to seven days in jail and assessed a fine and penalty totaling $4,960.
Source: herit.ag/4bNkm7m , herit.ag/4bPkjbx
Key & Definitions
Types of Cases
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.
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.
Any civil case resulting in fines or other penalties imposed for a violation of election laws.
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.
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
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.
Illegal registration and voting by individuals who are not U.S. citizens, are convicted felons, or are otherwise not eligible to vote.
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.
Paying voters to cast either an in-person or absentee ballot for a particular candidate.
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
Registering in multiple locations and voting in the same election in more than one jurisdiction or state.
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.
Changing the actual vote count either in a precinct or at the central location where votes are counted.
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.”
