Election Fraud Cases

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StateCaliforniaYear2024NameWilliam EschenbachCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeDuplicate Voting, Fraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

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

StateCaliforniaYear2023NameShakir KahnCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

Shakir Khan, a Lodi City Councilman, was charged by the state with 14 felony counts for voter registration fraud in connection with the 2020 Lodi City Council Election in which he defeated three opponents including the incumbent by 282 votes. Khan was charged with causing false voter registration, one count of false registration of fictitious person/person not requesting registration, 7 counts of subscription of fictitious name to nomination petition, 2 counts of false nomination/declaration of candidacy, one count of procuring/assisting/counseling/advising another not qualified to vote, and one count of aiding and abetting commission of fraudulent voting. An investigation by the San Joaquin Sheriff’s office discovered 41 sealed and completed mail-in ballots when searching his home, and a citizen looking into the voter rolls discovered 71 names registered to Khan's address, phone number, or email. Khan took advantage of members of the Pakistani community with his election fraud misconduct. Khan, who resigned from his position, was also charged with illegal gambling, tax evasion, unemployment fraud and other charges, for a total of 77 criminal charges against him (71 felonies and 6 misdemeanors). Khan pleaded no contest to all 77 charges including the 14 felony election fraud charges and is awaiting sentencing.

Source: herit.ag/4e1uNa0 , herit.ag/3yMFJYG , herit.ag/4aEH9BN , herit.ag/3KiXwcC , herit.ag/4aEBfAW , herit.ag/4dXdkiX

StateCaliforniaYear2022NameElizabeth GaleCase TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots, Impersonation Fraud At The Polls

Elizabeth Gale of San Diego was charged by the state with four felony counts of fraudulently casting a vote, impersonating a voter, attempting to vote as a fictious person, and personate with a written instrument after casting an absentee ballot on behalf of her deceased mother during the 2021 California Gubernatorial Recall Election. After absentee ballots were sent to all registered Madera County voters, Gale filled out the ballot, forged her mother's signature, and falsely swore as a witness to her mother signing the ballot. Gale pleaded nolo contendere to one felony count of fraudulently casting a vote. She was sentenced to two years’ probation.

Source: https://herit.ag/3QKH06Z, https://herit.ag/3KdLJve

StateCaliforniaYear2021NameCaesar Peter AbutinCase TypeDiversion ProgramFraud TypeFraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

Caesar Abutin, of Norwalk, voted under the name of his deceased mother three times between 2012 and 2014. He was charged with one count of impersonating another voter, one count of fraudulently requesting an absentee ballot, and one count of fraudulent voting, all felony charges. He entered a diversion program with supervised probation for 12 months and ordered to perform 40 hours of community service. If he successfully completes the program, the charges against him will be dismissed.

Source: https://herit.ag/2TCrAcu, https://herit.ag/3vLXjqd, https://herit.ag/3beDMoU

StateCaliforniaYear2012NameAngel Perales and David Silva Case TypeCriminal ConvictionFraud TypeFraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

Officials in the small town of Cudahy took part in a widespread corruption scheme that included accepting cash bribes, abusing drugs at City Hall, and throwing out absentee ballots that favored election challengers. After a lengthy FBI Investigation of the 2007 and 2009 elections, the former head of code enforcement, Angel Perales, admitted to tampering with mail-in ballots in city elections by opening them and then resealing and submitting votes for incumbent candidates while discarding votes for challengers. He and Mayor David Silva pleaded guilty to bribery and extortion charges, although Perales' plea agreement included his admission of election fraud. Silva was sentenced to one year in federal prison. Perales was sentenced to five years' probation.

Source: https://herit.ag/3yaLiLo , https://herit.ag/3EcTi14

Key & Definitions

Types of Cases

Criminal Conviction

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.

Judicial Finding

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.

Civil Penalty

Any civil case resulting in fines or other penalties imposed for a violation of election laws.

Official Finding

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.

Diversion Program

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

Fraudulent Use Of Absentee Ballots

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.

Ineligible Voting

Illegal registration and voting by individuals who are not U.S. citizens, are convicted felons, or are otherwise not eligible to vote.

Impersonation Fraud At The Polls

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.

Buying Votes

Paying voters to cast either an in-person or absentee ballot for a particular candidate.

Ballot Petition Fraud

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

Duplicate Voting

Registering in multiple locations and voting in the same election in more than one jurisdiction or state.

False Registrations

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.

Altering The Vote Count

Changing the actual vote count either in a precinct or at the central location where votes are counted.

Illegal "Assistance" At The Polls

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.”