Election Fraud Cases

Belkis M. Cespedes, Ana Vely-Gomez, Lucia M. Guzman, Inocencio Jimenez, Jose Ramon Ruiz, Wilson A. Torres, Octavio A. Dominguez, Juana A. Gill, Jose E. Gonzalez, Lourdes Inoa, and Dalila Rodriguez

Eleven individuals were arrested in a state investigation of possible manipulation of absentee ballots in the election of Paterson Councilman Rigo Rodriguez. They entered into pre-trial intervention, a probationary program, to avoid trial and possible prison time.

Source: https://herit.ag/3f1dM2T

Spencer Robbins

Spencer Robbins, a municipal judge in Middlesex County, was forced to resign after it was discovered he registered to vote (and actually voted in 22 elections and democratic primaries) using the address of his Woodbridge law office. Although charged with two counts of third-degree voter fraud, Robbins was allowed to enter into a pre-trial intervention program, which means the charges will be dismissed if he successfully completes the program.

Source: https://herit.ag/3i8N1LI, https://herit.ag/3iV3i61

Rigo and Lisette Rodriguez

Former Paterson Councilman Rigo Rodriguez and his wife were entered into the Pre-Trial Intervention Program after facing charges of conspiracy, election fraud, mail-in ballot fraud, and witness tampering. Paterson and his wife, who managed his campaign, orchestrated a scheme to take possession of absentee ballots and "assist" voters in filling them out, or fill them out fraudulently. Rodriguez instructed his volunteers to lie to officials investigating his scheme.

Source: https://herit.ag/2VdvbOP

Biqui Diana Parra Rodriguez

Las Vegas resident, Biqui Diana Parra Rodriguez illegally obtained personal information of Mary Lou Aguirre and falsely registered to vote under her name in 2011 and in 2012. She was caught through the use of photo ID cards and facial recognition software that identified the two IDs she had obtained under different names. She ultimately pleaded guilty to two felony counts of voter registration fraud and identity theft.

Source: https://herit.ag/3nuoaUf, https://herit.ag/3kYthMI

Hortencia Segura-Munoz

Hortencia Segura-Munoz, an illegal immigrant living in Washoe County, Nevada, registered to vote under a false name and cast ballots in the 2008 and 2010 Nevada elections. She was convicted and was sentenced to time served (103 days in jail) and $1,000 in costs and fees.

Source: https://herit.ag/3x92Juo

New York City Department of Investigation

Undercover New York City Department of Investigation agents testing the integrity of New York City elections were able to vote 61 times out of 63 attempts using the names of ineligible voters, known felons, and deceased city residents.

Source: https://herit.ag/3x5Rq6f, https://herit.ag/2WixOiC

William McInerney, John Brown, Anthony DeFiglio, and Anthony Renna

William McInerney, John Brown, Anthony DeFiglio, and Anthony Renna pleaded guilty to felony charges, having forged signatures on absentee ballots during the 2009 Working Families Party primary in the city of Troy. Sentences: John Brown, six months' imprisonment; Anthony DeFiglio, 100 hours' community service; Anthony Renna, 200 hours in work-order program; William McInerney, 90 days in work-order program.

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

Jean Gobeil

Jean Gobeil, a Canadian citizen, admitted that he illegally registered to vote while registing his car in Ohio and then voted in the 2012 election. Gobeil was originally charged with illegal voting, but as part of a plea bargain, the charges were reduced to obstruction of justice. He received a 90 day suspended jail sentence.

Source: https://herit.ag/2WqEPOC, https://herit.ag/3eYmLBB

Bernus Charmont

Bernus Charmont, a non-citizen, admitted to illegally voting in the 2012 election. As part of a plea bargain, the charges were reduced to falsification. Common Pleas Court Judge Leslie Ghiz sentenced Charmont to one year of probation and ordered him to pay a $1,000 fine and court costs.

Source: https://herit.ag/2VcrN6D, https://herit.ag/3zBr0em

Richard Allan Toney

The former police chief of Harmar Township, pleaded guilty to illegally soliciting absentee ballots to benefit his wife and her running mate in the 2009 Democratic primary for town council. Toney applied for the ballots, and then had them filled out illegally by individuals not expected to be absent on election day. The absentee ballot count flipped the primary results, securing a victory for Mrs. Toney's running mate. During the subsequent FBI investigation, Mr. Toney attempted to prevent witnesses, including two grand jury witnesses, from testifying. Toney was sentenced to three years' probation.

Source: https://herit.ag/3tXbxDG, https://herit.ag/3iTTE3J

Brenda Woods

Originally convicted in 2010, Brenda Woods, former Bolivar City Council member, was granted--and lost--a new trial in 2014. Woods drove three ineligible voters (convicted felons) to the polls to vote for her in an election in which she was running for City Council and mayor. Woods received suspended, concurrent two-year terms on each of three counts.

Source: https://herit.ag/3i4UQSH

Belinda Solis and Veronica Saldivar

Two campaign workers pleaded guilty in the Southern District of Texas for paying voters to vote in two 2012 elections in Hidalgo County, Texas. In an elaborate vote-buying scheme, Belina Solis and Veronica Saldivar offered "baggies" of cocaine and money in exchange for votes for local and county candidates. After an extensive FBI investigation, they both pleaded guilty to one count of vote-buying.

Source: https://herit.ag/3f2jVMh

Adrian Heath, Sybil Doyle, and Roberta Cook

Adrian Heath, Sybil Doyle, and Roberta Cook were convicted of voting on a referendum about whether the Woodlands Road Utility District could raise taxes to cover municipal debt, even though none of them were residents in the district. The election results were subsequently overturned. Heath was sentenced to a three-year prison sentence and a fine of $10,000; Cook and Doyle each received three-year prison sentences, five years' probation, and fines of $5,000.

Source: https://herit.ag/3Akxu3e, https://herit.ag/3x92Tlu

Richard Alan Collier

Richard Alan Collier pleaded guilty to attempting to vote twice in the November 2012 general election, in both Minnesota and Texas. He requested and submitted absentee ballots in both states. Galveston County officials were alerted to Collier's illegal behavior when they were tipped off about a Facebook post in which Collier admitted to double voting. Collier 's misdemeanor conviction earned him a $4,000 fine.

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

Carlos Medrano

Former Dallas County Justice of the Peace, Carlos Medrano, was convicted on one count of illegal voting. A grand jury had indicted him for two counts of soliciting votes of non-resident family members in his election for justice of the peace. He was sentenced to serve 180 days in jail, five years on probation, and fined $2,500.

Source: bit.ly/2tvFDz8, bit.ly/2tWBs2i, bit.ly/2sRNq8g