Election Fraud Cases
Details
James Bartlett was charged by the state in Dearborn County with one felony count each of perjury and fraudulent subscription of another person's name after his involvement in an absentee ballot trafficking scheme during the Lawrenceburg 2019 General Election. Bartlett, a former City of Lawrenceburg employee, worked with co-conspirator Troy Kemper to fill out fraudulent absentee ballot applications and absentee ballots. The fraud was detected by the Election Board because the signatures on the original voter registration forms did not match the signatures on the absentee ballot applications and the absentee ballots, and after contacting 20 voters, learned they did not apply for an absentee ballot or permit Kemper to turn in their ballot. Bartlett pleaded guilty to one felony count of conspiracy of fraudulent subscription and was sentenced to 910 days in prison, which was suspended if he completes one year of probation without violation. He was also ordered to complete 40 hours of community service and fined and assessed court costs of $1,285. Upon completion of his probation, his felony charge will be reduced to a misdemeanor.
Source: herit.ag/3HVQ99l , herit.ag/3HTrl1X , herit.ag/3RXuAdp
Details
Troy Kemper was charged by the state in Dearborn County with one felony count each of perjury and fraudulent subscription of another person's name after his involvement in an absentee ballot trafficking scheme during the Lawrenceburg 2019 General Election. Kemper was charged for his role in submitting fraudulent absentee ballot applications and ballots along with his co-conspirator James Bartlett. The fraud was detected by the Election Board because the signatures on the original voter registration forms did not match the signatures on the absentee ballot applications and absentee ballots, and after contacting 20 voters, learned they did not apply for an absentee ballot or permit Kemper to turn in their ballot. In exchange for agreeing to testify truthfully against James Bartlett and the state dismissing the fraudulent subscription charge, Kemper pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of perjury and was sentenced to 365 days with 363 days suspended, and he was assessed court costs and filing fees of $210.
Source: herit.ag/3XoQ4Rj , herit.ag/3HPWEdK , herit.ag/3HZrrov
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Trenae Myesha Rainey, 28, pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor counts of making a false statement on an absentee ballot application. During the 2020 general election, Rainey, an employee at an assisted living facility, completed roughly two dozen absentee voter applications, forging individual signatures of residents. She then handed over the ballots to another employee, whom she instructed to send the absentee ballot requests to the county election clerk. Rainey was sentenced to two years' probation, in which the first 45 days would be spent in the county jail.
Source: https://herit.ag/3K0oJzc, https://herit.ag/3DptHCW
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Carless Clark, 59, pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of forging a signature on another individual's absentee ballot. In the 2020 general election, Clark signed and returned her grandson's absentee ballot, citing her concern that he would not have enough time to vote in-person on Election Day, which the grandson did. Clark was sentenced to twelve months' probation and nineteen days of community service.
Source: https://herit.ag/3uFWbEt, https://herit.ag/3iRCVi4
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Bradley Haugen was charged by the state with one felony count of intentionally making a false or untrue statement on an absentee ballot application. He requested an absentee ballot during the 2020 primary election indicating that he was eligible to vote despite being a convicted felon. Haugen pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to pay $214 in fines and fees. If Haugen successfully completes probation, the conviction will be reduced to a misdemeanor.
Source: https://herit.ag/3rsmFbw, https://herit.ag/3SZ61vB, https://herit.ag/3SYX2Ld
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Abdihakim A. Essa, of Minneapolis, was accused of intentionally making or signing false certificates when submitting absentee ballots in Hennepin County. Essa, a non-citizen, forged his father's signature as a witness on the ballots. He pleaded guilty to four of the thirteen counts, all state felony offenses. He was sentenced to 180 days in an adult correctional facility; all but 90 days of this sentence was stayed pending successful completion of 2 years of supervised probation. He was also assessed $78 in court costs.
Source: https://herit.ag/3U025ev, https://herit.ag/3TYJwXY
Details
Muse Mohamed was charged with lying to a federal grand jury about his absentee ballot harvesting during the 2020 primary election in Minneapolis. Mohamed knowingly gave false information to a grand jury about his involvement in collecting and filling out absentee ballots on behalf of three individuals. While he claimed to have simply dropped off already filled-out ballots for those three people, the individuals did not know Mohamed and did not ask him to deliver their absentee ballots (one person had voted in-person on election day). He was convicted following a jury trial of two counts of making false statements to a grand jury. He is awaiting sentencing.
Source: https://herit.ag/3AtYuyP, https://herit.ag/3pqywpm, https://herit.ag/3bWQoFr
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James Singletary, of Wake County, was charged by the state for his role in connection with an absentee ballot trafficking scheme to benefit Republican congressional candidate Mark Harris during the 2018 general election. Singletary was charged with conspiracy to commit felonious obstruction of justice, possession of absentee ballot, and conspiracy to commit possession of absentee ballot. Singletary and others were affiliated with Leslie McCrae Dowless, a political operative in Bladen County and a consultant for Harris. Singletary and others unlawfully collected ballots from voters, falsely claimed to have witnessed the voter casting his or her vote, and mailed the ballots in a manner intended to conceal that the voter had not mailed the ballot. Singletary pleaded guilty to a felony charge of conspiracy to possess an absentee ballot and was sentenced to 120 days in the misdemeanor confinement program, which was suspended to 12 months of supervised probation, and ordered to complete 100 hours of community service and pay $393.50 in court costs.
Source: https://herit.ag/3iu2mta
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Jessica Dowless, of Wake County, was charged by the state for her role in connection with an absentee ballot trafficking scheme to benefit Republican congressional candidate Mark Harris during the 2018 general election. Dowless was charged with conspiracy to commit felonious obstruction of justice, swearing falsely, and conspiracy to swear falsely. Dowless and others were affiliated with Leslie McCrae Dowless, a political operative in Bladen County and a consultant for Harris. Dowless and others unlawfully collected ballots from voters, falsely claimed to have witnessed the voter casting his or her vote, and then mailed the ballots in a manner intended to conceal that the voter had not mailed the ballot. Dowless pleaded guilty to a felony charge of conspiracy to swear falsely in exchange for dismissal of the other charges and was sentenced to 120 days in the misdemeanor confinement program, which was suspended to 12 months of supervised probation, and ordered to complete 100 hours of community service and pay court costs and fees of $858.50.
Source: https://herit.ag/3jYSbx7
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Caitlyn Croom, of Wake County, was changed by the state for her role in connection with an absentee ballot trafficking during the 2016 general election. Croom conspired with Leslie McCrae Dowless, a political operative in Bladen County, to unlawfully collect ballots from voters, falsely claim to have witnessed the voter casting his or her vote, and then mail the ballots in a manner intended to conceal that the voter had not mailed the ballot. Croom was charged with one count each of conspiracy to commit felonious obstruction of justice, possession of absentee ballot, and conspiracy to possess absentee ballot. Croom pleaded guilty to a felony charge of conspiracy to possess absentee ballot in exchange for the dismissal of the other charges. Croom was sentenced to 45 days in the misdemeanor confinement program, which was suspended for 12 months of supervised probation and ordered to complete 100 hours of community service.
Source: https://herit.ag/3GpwtKm
Details
Ginger S. Eason, of Wake County, was charged by the state for her role in connection with an absentee ballot trafficking scheme to benefit Republican congressional candidate Mark Harris during the 2016 general and 2018 primary elections. Eason and others were affiliated with Leslie McCrae Dowless, a political operative in Bladen County and a consultant for Harris. Eason and others would unlawfully collect ballots from voters, falsely claim to have witnessed the voter casting his or her vote, and then mail the ballots in a manner to conceal that the voter had not mailed the ballot. Eason pleaded guilty to three felony charges: conspiracy to commit felonious obstruction of justice, possession of absentee ballot, and conspiracy to commit possession of absentee ballot. Eason was sentenced to 45 days in a misdemeanor confinement program which was suspended to a sentence of 12 months of probation, ordered to complete 100 hours of community service, and assessed fees and costs of $696.
Source: https://herit.ag/3guUl6q
Details
Tonia M. Gordon, of Wake County, was changed by the state for her role in connection with an absentee ballot trafficking scheme to benefit Republican congressional candidate Mark Harris during the 2016 general and 2018 primary elections. Gordon and others were affiliated with Leslie McCrae Dowless, a political operative in Bladen County and a consultant for Harris. Eason and others would unlawfully collect ballots from voters, falsely claim to have witnessed the voter casting his or her vote, and then mail the ballots in a manner to conceal that the voter had not mailed the ballot. Gordon pleaded guilty to three felony charges: conspiracy to commit felonious obstruction of justice, possession of absentee ballot, and conspiracy to commit possession of absentee ballot. Gordon was sentenced to 120 days in a misdemeanor confinement program which was suspended to a sentence of 12 months of probation, ordered to complete 100 hours of community service, and assessed fees and costs of $956.
Source: https://herit.ag/3ViDNgB
Details
Rebecca D. Thompson, of Wake County, was charged by the state for her role in connection with an absentee ballot trafficking scheme to benefit Republican congressional candidate Mark Harris during the 2016 general and 2018 primary elections. Gordon and others were affiliated with Leslie McCrae Dowless, a political operative in Bladen County and a consultant for Harris. Thompson and others would unlawfully collect ballots from voters, falsely claim to have witnessed the voter casting his or her vote, and then mail the ballots in a manner to conceal that the voter had not mailed the ballot. Gordon pleaded guilty to three felony charges: conspiracy to commit felonious obstruction of justice, possession of absentee ballot, and conspiracy to commit possession of absentee ballot. Thompson was sentenced to 45 days in a misdemeanor confinement program which was suspended to a sentence of 12 months of probation, ordered to complete 100 hours of community service, and assessed fees and costs of $643.50.
Source: https://herit.ag/3TYJwHs
Details
Kelly Hendrix, of Wake County, was charged by the state for her role in connection with an absentee ballot trafficking scheme to benefit Republican congressional candidate Mark Harris during the 2016 general and 2018 primary elections. Hendrix and others were affiliated with Leslie McCrae Dowless, a political operative in Bladen County and a consultant for Harris. Hendrix and others would unlawfully collect ballots from voters, falsely claim to have witnessed the voter casting his or her vote, and then mail the ballots in a manner to conceal that the voter had not mailed the ballot. Hendrix pleaded guilty to one felony count of possession of absentee ballot. Hendrix was sentenced to 45 days in a misdemeanor confinement program which was suspended to a sentence of 12 months of probation, ordered to complete 100 hours of community service, and assessed fees and costs of $793.50.
Source: https://herit.ag/3TZLIhX, https://herit.ag/3VnCsW1
Details
Sigmund Boganski was charged by the state after voting twice in the 2016 General Election. He voted by absentee ballot in Arizona and again in-person in New Hampshire. Boganski pleaded guilty to one count of voting in more than one state. He was sentenced to 90 days in the House of Corrections, which was suspended for two years on the condition of good behavior. He was also fined $1,000 and assessed a $240 penalty. Boganski’s right to vote in New Hampshire was terminated.
Source: https://herit.ag/3CzgokL
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.”
