Election Fraud Cases

George Edgar Rheam, Jr.

George Edgar Rheam, Jr. pleaded guilty to two violations of the state Election Code, perjury and false signatures and statements. He was fined and given probation.

Source: https://herit.ag/3x6wZWX

Dustin Shane Collings (a.k.a. Dustin Ocoilain)

Dustin S. Collings, identified as a homeless Seattle resident, was convicted of casting two ballots, both using the alias of Dustin Ocoilain, a name that was listed twice on the voter registration rolls.

Source: https://herit.ag/3Go5XAh

Douglas Ferrel

In Blue River, Wisconsin, Douglas Ferrel was found guilty of making false representations that he personally had obtained each of the signatures on a recall petition when he had not. He was found guilty and charged court assessments of $707.

Source: bit.ly/2f1NGhS, bit.ly/2elzXi9

Johnny Mendez

In West Virginia, Johnny Mendez, the sheriff of Logan County, pleaded guilty to federal charges that he accepted $10,000 in illegal contributions and used the money to buy votes in the 2000 and 2004 elections.

Source: https://herit.ag/3i8N2zg

Alvin Ray Porter, Jr.

Alvin Ray Porter, Jr., the former police chief of Logan County, pleaded guilty to buying votes during the 2002 Democratic Primary. Porter was one of several Logan County officials who conspired to influence elections in 2002. Porter was sentenced to three years of probation and was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine. He also was ordered to give speeches on his personal experiences with corruption to eighth grade civics classes and others.

Source: https://herit.ag/3Go5RIV, https://herit.ag/3nz0Ep5, 2:04-cr-00101-1

Eva Corrigan

Eva Corrigan admitted to failing to co-sign the absentee ballots of those she assisted. She was ordered by the Connecticut Elections Enforcement Commission to pay a $100 civil penalty.

Source: bit.ly/2u4xi8p

Barnaby Horton

Former state representative Barnaby Horton was charged with absentee ballot fraud after he was caught inducing elderly residents to cast absentee ballots for him. After a lengthy court battle, he pleaded guilty to felony charges of ballot fraud and agreed to pay a $10,000 fine, one of the largest fines ever imposed by the State Elections Enforcement Commission. A Superior Court judge sentenced Horton to two years' probation and ordered to perform 1,000 hours of community service.

Source: https://herit.ag/3rDnk9g

Rafael Antonio Velasquez

Rafael Antonio Velasquez, a former candidate for the Florida House, was convicted in 2003 for having voted twice before he became a U.S. citizen.

Source: https://herit.ag/3zH4Yad, https://herit.ag/2VispaI

Michelle Chandler

Michelle Chandler, a worker in the city controller's office, was charged with a fraudulent receipt of ballot, voting outside of her district, and perjury in connection to misconduct during the 2003 East Chicago Democratic mayoral primary. She was found guilty of one count of perjury in a jury trial, a felony, and 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/3kYm67j

Valerie McGowan

Valerie McGowan pleaded guilty to one felony count of "voting in other precinct" during the ultimately-overturned 2003 East Chicago Mayoral election. McGowan was involved in a massive fraud scheme, and ultimately the results of the election overturned. She initially faced other charges, including fraudulent application for a ballot and perjury, which were dropped as part of her plea agreement. McGowan was sentenced to 18 months of probation.

Source: https://herit.ag/3f4FbRl

Dolores Croy

Dolores Croy pleaded guilty to voter fraud during the 2003 Democratic Primary in East Chicago, Indiana. She and her husband registered to vote and sent absentee ballots to the East Chicago voting district, using their business address. The couple's home address was actually in Hobart. Although both charges were Class D felonies, the charges were drastically reduced, and the couple only had to make a public apology and serve probation.

Source: https://herit.ag/3iOfTrM, https://herit.ag/3i5WG5C

Glenn Pitts

Glenn Pitts pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of failure to cast or return a ballot in an authorized manner in connection with the overturned 2003 East Chicago Democratic mayoral primary. Pitts originally claimed that he had been offered $30 in order to hand his ballot to another individual. He initially faced a multitude of charges, including perjury, false application for a ballot, and voting in another precinct, which were dismissed as part of his plea agreement. He was sentenced to 139 days in county jail.

Source: https://herit.ag/375WKMo

Robert Croy

Robert Croy pleaded guilty to voter fraud during the 2003 Democratic Primary in East Chicago, Indiana. He and his wife registered to vote and sent absentee ballots to the East Chicago voting district, using their business address. The couple's home address was actually in Hobart, IN. Although both charges were class D felonies, the charges were drastically reduced and the couple only had to make a public apology and serve probation.

Source: https://herit.ag/3iOfTrM, https://herit.ag/3i5WG5C

Donnie Newsome

Knott County Judge-Executive Donnie Newsome was convicted of conspiracy to buy votes and vote buying in the May 1998 Knott County primary election. He was sentenced to 26 months in prison and fined $20,000.

Source: https://herit.ag/3zHp5oF

Willard Smith

Willard Smith was convicted of conspiracy to buy votes and vote buying in the May 1998 Knott County primary election. He was accused of paying impoverished, handicapped, illiterate, or otherwise impaired persons to vote for Knott County Judge-Executive Donnie Newsome by absentee ballot. Smith was sentenced to two years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Source: https://herit.ag/2XLMGqR, https://herit.ag/3BPBIzN