Election Fraud Cases

Janet Reed

Janet Reed, an Evansville Democratic Party activist, was charged by the state with one count of unauthorized absentee ballot, a felony offense. Reed sent illegally pre-marked absentee ballots applications to voters ahead of the 2020 primary election. Reed filled out the applications by pre-selecting the Democrat Party where voters were supposed to choose a Republican or Democratic primary ballot. Reed included instructions that the section in question "needs no input." Reed kept sending the pre-marked applications even after receiving warnings from election officials and the Democrat Party. Reed pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 months’ probation and ordered to pay restitution of $2,740 and court costs of $925. She was also barred from working on any elections during her probation. The court indicated that it would consider reducing the charge to a misdemeanor upon successful completion of probation.

Source: https://herit.ag/3VkpWGF, https://herit.ag/3TZLNlu, https://herit.ag/3Vmv4dc

Steve Watkins

Steve Watkins, a former Republican congressman from Kansas, listed a postal box at a UPS store as his residence on a state voter registration form while living temporarily at his parents’ home during a 2019 municipal election. Watkins was charged with three felonies - voting without being qualified, knowingly voting with more than one advance ballot, and interfering with the investigation intending to obstruct. He entered into a diversion agreement where his prosecution will be deferred for six months. If he complies with the terms of the agreement and pays a $250 fee, the charges will be dropped.

Source: https://herit.ag/2UWDzlV, https://herit.ag/3BJy7mV

Paul Parana

Paul Parana of Canton was charged with impersonating a voter after he forged his daughter's signature on an absentee ballot in 2020 General Election. He pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor election law violation, was sentenced to 90 days’ probation, and ordered to pay $1,100 in fines and court costs.

Source: https://herit.ag/3eXnao7, https://herit.ag/3rGpyF0, https://herit.ag/378DNIU

Linda Marie Stately

Linda Maria Stately, of Little Falls, was charged by the state with ineligible voting, a felony, after registering on Election Day and voting in the 2020 general election despite being a convicted felon on probation. Stately pleaded guilty to the charge of ineligible voting and was sentenced to five years of probation and assessed $135 in fines and fees. If she successfully completes the terms of her probation, the charge will be reduced to a misdemeanor.

Source: https://herit.ag/3EwR92c, https://herit.ag/3ADQtH8

June 2020 Aberdeen First Ward Alderman Primary Election

Judge Jeff Weill overturned the results of the June 2020 First Ward Alderman Democratic primary election in Aberdeen, Mississippi, due to absentee ballot fraud, and has ordered a new election. Nicholas Holliday was declared the winner of the June primary by a margin of 37 votes over Robert Devaull. After Devaull filed a lawsuit challenging the results of the race, the Monroe County District court found that 66 of the 84 absentee ballots cast should not have been counted because they were not valid. A notary, Dallas Jones, was arrested for election fraud for notarizing ballots without watching voters sign ballots or checking their identification. In addition to the absentee ballot fraud, the court found evidence of intimidation at the polls by various public officials, including Mayor Maurice Howard, candidate Holliday, and Aberdeen Police Chief Henry Randle, which constituted violations of anti-electioneering rules at polling places.

Source: https://herit.ag/3idftfH , https://herit.ag/3BPBXeb, https://herit.ag/3iM4ubO

Michael Winters

Michael Winters was charged in Gallatin County with one count of deceptive election practices for filling out a voter registration form under the false name "Miguel Raton" - Spanish for Mickey Mouse. Winters combined his driver's license number and Mickey Mouse's birthday to fill out the registration form. But the ID number belonged to a Missoula resident, which Winters said was unintentional, and he didn't know the person. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 6 months in prison, which was suspended in lieu of his completing 100 hours of community service.  He was also assessed fees and costs of $375.

Source: https://herit.ag/40IAtxS, https://herit.ag/40Q6Pa1, https://herit.ag/41FzbVt , https://herit.ag/3ozrQrT

Soraya Paktiawal

Soraya Paktiawal was charged by the federal government with one count of falsely claiming to be a US citizen in order to register to vote. Paktiawal, an alien from Afghanistan, admitted the conduct and entered a pretrial diversion program for 12 months. The charges were dropped upon completion of the program.

Source: herit.ag/3ROlpfk , herit.ag/3S2pQVp

Gabriela Guzman-Miguel

Gabriela Guzman-Miguel was charged by the federal government with making a false claim of U.S. citizenship in order to register to vote and voting in the 2016 Primary Election and General Election. Gabriela Guzman-Miguel, a citizen from Mexico and thus ineligible to vote, admitted the conduct and entered into a pretrial diversion program for 12 months. Her charges were dropped upon completion of the program.

Source: herit.ag/3v5UZ0Z , herit.ag/4asGSDh , herit.ag/4atjSnD

Lurbyn Soraya Chirinos-Castro

Lurbyn Chirinos-Castro was charged by the federal government with one count of falsely claiming to be a US citizen in order to register to vote. Chirinos-Castro, an alien from Honduras, admitted the conduct and entered a pretrial diversion program for 12 months. The charges were dropped upon completion of the program.

Source: herit.ag/3H6ix8Y , herit.ag/48zYBXA

Miriam Perez-Robledo

Miriam Perez-Robledo was charged by the federal government with one count of falsely claiming to be a US citizen in order to register to vote. Perez-Robledo, an alien from Mexico, admitted the conduct and entered a pretrial diversion program for 12 months. The charges were dropped upon completion of the program.

Source: herit.ag/3NLJgLJ , herit.ag/4aFTyH4

Faustin Ngaruyinka

Faustin Ngaruyinka was charged by the federal government with falsely claiming to be a US citizen in order to register to vote; fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents; and making a false statement in an immigration proceeding. Ngaruyinka, an alien from the Congo, admitted the conduct and entered a pretrial diversion program for 12 months. The charges were dropped upon completion of the program.

Source: herit.ag/48kqy6a , herit.ag/48hzN75

Jeffrey Kenneth Hamilton

Jeffrey Hamilton was charged by the federal government with naturalization fraud; fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents; and making a false statement in an immigration proceeding, all in connection with submitting a false voter registration application in which he claimed to be a US citizen. Hamilton, an alien from Canada, admitted the conduct and entered a pretrial diversion program for 12 months. The charges were dropped upon completion of the program.

Source: herit.ag/3vj0hGF , herit.ag/3RNZ0iw

Miguel Angel Dominguez-Martinez

Miguel Angel Dominguez-Martinez was charged by the federal government with attempted naturalization fraud; visa fraud; and making a false statement in an immigration proceeding, all in connection with submitting a false voter registration application in which he claimed to be a US citizen. Dominguez-Martinez, an alien from Guatemala, admitted the conduct and entered a pretrial diversion program for 12 months. The charges were dropped upon completion of the program.

Source: herit.ag/3NRIKMi , herit.ag/4aADWEC

Byron Rene Benavides-Campos

Byron Rene Benavides-Campos was charged by the federal government with naturalization fraud, making a false statement in an immigration proceeding, misuse of legal documents, and making a false claim of U.S. citizenship to register to vote. Byron Rene Benavides-Campos, a citizen from El Salvador and thus ineligible to vote, admitted the conduct and entered into a pretrial diversion program for 12 months. His charges were dropped upon completion of the program.

Source: herit.ag/478ZYeI , herit.ag/3v2JfMM , herit.ag/3tpe2TH

Ikechukwu Agustine Okeke

Ikechukwu Agustine Okeke was charged by the federal government with making a false claim of U.S. Citizenship in order to register to vote. Okeke, a citizen from Nigeria and thus ineligible to vote, admitted the conduct and entered into a pretrial diversion program for 12 months. Her charges were dropped upon completion of the program. 

Source: herit.ag/3ty1Xvi , herit.ag/3ty29L2 , herit.ag/41AwA00