Voter Fraud Convictions in Virginia, 2016-2020
Return to the Voter Fraud Convictions Summary Chart
| A. Conviction Details | B. Background | C. Potential Election Impact | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Election Year: 2020 Name: Jonathan Meade West, Sr Party Affiliation: Self identifies as “conservative” but no party affiliation found[1]Melany Slaughter, “Voter Fraud Case Ends in District Court,” gazettejournal.net, January 27, 2021.[2] Virginia does not register voters by party affiliation, according to the Virginia Department of Elections in an email response on 7/12/2021 Offense and Sentencing: Jonathan Meade West, Sr was convicted on 1/14/2021[3]Virginia Judiciary, Online Case Information System 2.0, “Gloucester General District Court, Case #: GC20004707-00,” eapps.courts.state.va.us, accessed on May 9, 2022 of one reduced “misdemeanor charge of obtaining services by false pretense after being charged with attempting to vote twice in the 2020 presidential election.”[4]Melany Slaughter, “Voter Fraud Case Ends in District Court,” gazettejournal.net, January 27, 2021 Reduced from a felony charge, West was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, and a $500 fine plus associated costs.[5]Virginia Judiciary, Online Case Information System 2.0, “Gloucester General District Court, Case #: GC20004707-00,” eapps.courts.state.va.us, accessed on May 9, 2022 | “Jonathan Meade West, Sr., of Hayes, was charged with a felony for attempting to cast two ballots in the 2020 general election. West first voted absentee at the Gloucester County Voter Register’s office. He then returned four days later and tried to cast a second ballot. He was stopped from casting a second ballot when the election worker checked his information using a back-up to the VERIS (Virginia Election Registration Information System) system since it was not working that day.”[6]Heritage Foundation, “Voter Fraud Report: Jonathan Meade West Sr.,” heritage.org, accessed on May 9, 2022 “West … [mentioned] about ‘the left’ cheating in the election and that he was an ‘unabashed conservative’ and simply wanted to make sure that the process was working.”[7]Melany Slaughter, “Voter Fraud Case Ends in District Court,” gazettejournal.net, January 27, 2021 Case Notes: Commonwealth of Virginia v. Jonathan Meade West, Sr. Case Number: GC20004707-00 Arrest Warrant | Type of Election: Presidential Party Affiliation: Not Found Theoretical Election Effect: 1 illegal vote, party unknown |
| 2. | Election Year: 2018 Name: Richard Douglas Dohmen Party Affiliation: Party affiliation is not tracked in Virginia[8]Virginia does not register voters by party affiliation, according to the Virginia Department of Elections in an email response on 7/12/2021 Offense and Sentencing: Richard Douglas Dohmen pleaded guilty on 6/6/2019 to one felony count of making a false statement on a required form, in relation to an offense committed on 10/19/2018.[9]Virginia Judiciary, Online Case Information System 2.0, “Williamsburg/James City County Circuit Court, Case #: CR19028448-00,” eapps.courts.state.va.us, accessed on May 9, 2022 One felony charge of forgery was dismissed.[10]Virginia Judiciary, Online Case Information System 2.0, “Williamsburg/James City County Circuit Court, Case #: CR19028447-00,” eapps.courts.state.va.us, accessed on May 9, 2022 Dohmen was sentenced to one year imprisonment, suspended for one year, three years of unsupervised probation, and $458 costs.[11]Virginia Judiciary, Online Case Information System 2.0, “Williamsburg/James City County Circuit Court, Case #: CR19028448-00,” eapps.courts.state.va.us, accessed on May 9, 2022 | “After he [Richard Douglas Dohmen] tried to cast ballots for himself and his dead wife in the 2018 elections, a U.S. Army veteran has been indicted on charges of voter fraud … At 2:23 p.m. Oct. 24 [2018], the James City County Voter Registrar’s office called the James City County Police Department to request an investigation into an allegedly fraudulent absentee voter application,… An officer visited Dohmen’s home,… Dohmen told him he had filled out the absentee ballot in his dead wife’s name to cast a second vote during the election.”[12] Steve Roberts, Jr, “Court Docs: James City Man Indicted on Voter Fraud Charges,” dailypress.com, April 9, 2019 Case Notes: Commonwealth of Virginia v. Richard Douglas Dohmen Case Number: CR19028448-00 (false statement) Case Number: CR19028447-00 (forgery) | Type of Election: Absentee Ballot Application before the 2018 Midterms Party Affiliation: Not Found Theoretical Election Effect: No effect on Congressional or Presidential elections |
| 3. | Election Year: 2018 Name: Roberta Lucia Marciano Party Affiliation: Campaign Staffer for a Republican Congressmember[13]13News Now Staff, “Former Scott Taylor Campaign Staffer Pleads Guilty to Election Charge,” 13newsnow.com, September 24, 2020 Offense and Sentencing: Roberta Lucia Marciano pleaded guilty on 9/24/2020 to one misdemeanor count of neglect of election duties in relation to an offense committed on 5/31/2018; the charge was reduced from a felony charge of election fraud – making false statements, one further misdemeanor charge of neglect was dismissed.[14]Virginia Judiciary, Online Case Information System 2.0, “Virginia Beach Circuit Court, Case #: CR20000530-01,” eapps.courts.state.va.us, accessed on May 10, 2022 and Virginia Judiciary, … Continue reading Marciano was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, one year of unsupervised probation, and a $1,000 fine plus $267 in costs.[15]Virginia Judiciary, Online Case Information System 2.0, “Virginia Beach Circuit Court, Case #: CR20000530-01,” eapps.courts.state.va.us, accessed on May 10, 2022 and Virginia Judiciary, … Continue reading | “Roberta Marciano pleaded guilty Thursday [9/24/2020] to woeful neglect of election duties, admitting to signing two election petitions that included forged names. The petitions were part of a behind-the-scenes effort by staffers from [Scott] Taylor’s failed 2018 reelection bid. They aimed to get a third-party spoiler candidate on the ballot to hurt Taylor’s Democratic opponent, now-Rep. Elaine Luria (D).”[16]Meagan Flynn, “Second Former Taylor Campaign Staffer Pleads Guilty to 2018 Election Fraud in VA.,” washingtonpost.com, September 24, 2020 “Marciano worked on the re-election effort for the Republican in the 2nd Congressional District.”[17]13News Now Staff, “Former Scott Taylor Campaign Staffer Pleads Guilty to Election Charge,” 13newsnow.com, September 24, 2020 Case Notes: Commonwealth of Virginia v. Roberta Lucia Marciano Case Number: CR20000530-00 and CR20000530-01 | Type of Election: Ballot Petition Party Affiliation: Republican Campaign Staffer Theoretical Election Effect: No effect on Congressional or Presidential elections |
| 4. | Election Year: 2018 Name: Lauren Victoria Creekmore, also known as Lauren Peabody Party Affiliation: Campaign Staffer for a Republican Congressmember[18]Jane Harper, “Second Former Scott Taylor Campaign Staffer Pleads Guilty to Election Fraud,” pilotonline.com, September 24, 2020 Offense and Sentencing: Lauren Victoria Creekmore pleaded guilty on 3/3/2020 to one misdemeanor count of neglect of election duties in relation to an offense committed on 5/31/2018; the charge was reduced from a felony charge of election fraud – making false statements, one further felony charge of election fraud was dismissed.[19]Virginia Judiciary, Online Case Information System 2.0, “Virginia Beach Circuit Court, Case #: CR19001247-01,” eapps.courts.state.va.us, accessed on May 10, 2022 and Virginia Judiciary, … Continue reading Creekmore was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, one year of unsupervised probation, and a $1,000 fine plus $257 in costs.[20]Virginia Judiciary, Online Case Information System 2.0, “Virginia Beach Circuit Court, Case #: CR19001247-01,” eapps.courts.state.va.us, accessed on May 10, 2022 | “A former campaign staffer for [Republican] ex-Congressman Scott Taylor pleaded guilty this morning [3/3/2020] to a misdemeanor election crime and was fined $1,000 for her part in a 2018 scandal that likely contributed to the congressman losing re-election that year. Lauren Creekmore Peabody pleaded guilty to willful neglect of an election duty,… Peabody was one of several members of Taylor’s Virginia Beach campaign staff who collected and submitted petition signatures in an effort to get a spoiler candidate added to the 2nd Congressional District ballot in 2018. … But separate investigations by The Virginian-Pilot, WHRO Public Media and state Democrats showed that dozens of the signatures listed on the pages turned in by Taylor’s staff had been forged. At least four of the people named were dead.”[21]Jane Harper, “Campaign Staffer for Former Rep. Scott Taylor Pleads Guilty in Petition Scandal,” pilotonline.com, March 3, 2020 Case Notes: Commonwealth of Virginia v. Lauren Victoria Creekmore Case Number: CR19001247-01 and CR19001247-00 | Type of Election: Ballot Petition Party Affiliation: Republican Campaign Staffer Theoretical Election Effect: No effect on Congressional or Presidential elections |
| 5. | Election Year: 2018 Name: Heather Danielle Guillot Party Affiliation: Campaign Staffer for a Republican Congressmember[22]Angela Bohon, “Former Staffer With Scott Taylor’s Campaign Pleads Guilty in Relation to Election Fraud,” wtkr.com, March 30, 2021 Offense and Sentencing: Heather Guillot pleaded guilty on 3/30/2021 to one misdemeanor count of neglect of election duties in relation to an offense committed on 5/31/2018; the charge was reduced from a felony charge of election fraud – making false statements.[23]Virginia Judiciary, Online Case Information System 2.0, “Virginia Beach Circuit Court, Case #: CR20001198-00,” eapps.courts.state.va.us, accessed on June 7, 2022 Guillot was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, one year of unsupervised probation, and a $1,000 fine plus $257 in costs.[24]Virginia Judiciary, Online Case Information System 2.0, “Virginia Beach Circuit Court, Case #: CR20001198-00,” eapps.courts.state.va.us, accessed on June 7, 2022 | “Heather Guillot pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of a misdemeanor of willful neglect of election duties. … Guillot is one of three staffers charged in a petition scandal during former Congressman Taylor’s campaign. Members of Taylor’s staff were accused in gathering false signatures on petitions for a third party candidate, Shaun Brown. Court documents allege the signatures were part of a re-election campaign strategy to allegedly split Democratic votes against Elaine Luria. In court, Guillot admitted that she did not witness the signing of at least one of those petitions.”[25] Case Notes: Commonwealth of Virginia v. Heather Danielle Guillot Case Number: CR20001198-00 | Type of Election: Ballot Petition Party Affiliation: Republican Campaign Staffer Theoretical Election Effect: No effect on Congressional or Presidential elections |
| 6. | Election Year: 2017 Name: Cassandra Amber-Marie Ritter Party Affiliation: Party affiliation is not tracked in Virginia[25]Virginia does not register voters by party affiliation, according to the Virginia Department of Elections in an email response on 7/12/2021 Offense and Sentencing: Cassandra Amber-Marie Ritter pleaded guilty on 6/11/2018 to one felony count of knowingly voting while not qualified [voting after being convicted of a felony] in relation to an offense committed on 11/07/2017.[26]Virginia Judiciary, Online Case Information System 2.0, “Frederick Circuit Court, Case #: CR18000013-00,” eapps.courts.state.va.us, accessed on May 10, 2022 Ritter was sentenced on the same day to two years imprisonment, suspended for two years, and two years of supervised probation, plus $633 in costs.[27]Virginia Judiciary, Online Case Information System 2.0, “Frederick Circuit Court, Case #: CR18000013-00,” eapps.courts.state.va.us, accessed on May 10, 2022 | “In a plea bargain Monday 6/11/2018 … Cassandra Amber Marie Ritter pleaded guilty to voting after being convicted of a felony. … On Oct. 20 [2017], Ritter, then known as Cassandra Amber Marie Simpson, was convicted … of heroin distribution … A little more than two weeks later, Ritter voted at the Round Hill Fire Department, according to Ross Spicer, Frederick County commonwealth’s attorney. Spicer said Rick Miller, the county’s general registrar of voters, then notified his office. Spicer said an investigator interviewed Ritter, who confessed.”[28]Evan Goodenow, “Local Woman Pleads Guilty to Voter Fraud,” winchesterstar.com, June 12, 2018 Case Notes: Commonwealth of Virginia v. Cassandra Amber-Marie Ritter Case Number: CR18000013-00 Indictment and Sentencing Order | Type of Election: Gubernatorial Party Affiliation: Not Found Theoretical Election Effect: No effect on Congressional or Presidential elections |
| 7. | Election Year: 2016 Name: Andrew J. Spieles Party Affiliation: Former Staffer for a Political Organization Affiliated with the Democratic Party[29]United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia, “Harrisonburg Man Pleads Guilty to Submitting Fraudulent Voter Registration Forms,” justice.gov, June 20, 2017 Offense and Sentencing: Andrew J. Spieles pleaded guilty on 6/20/2017 to one count of “knowingly transferring false Virginia Voter Registration Forms,” in relation to offenses committed in the time leading up to the 2016 general election.[30]United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia, “Harrisonburg Man Pleads Guilty to Submitting Fraudulent Voter Registration Forms,” justice.gov, June 20, 2017 Spieles was sentenced to 100 to 120 days imprisonment as part of a plea agreement.[31]United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia, “Harrisonburg Man Pleads Guilty to Submitting Fraudulent Voter Registration Forms,” justice.gov, June 20, 2017 | “[Andrew J. Spieles] was paid to register area voters during the weeks leading up to the 2016 National Election,… Spieles admitted that he prepared the false voter registration forms by obtaining the name, age, and address of individuals from ‘walk sheets’ provided to him by the Virginia Democratic Party, fabricating a birth date based on the ages listed in the walk sheet, and fabricating the social security numbers. Spieles admitted that he created all 18 fraudulent forms himself and that no one else participated in the crime.”[32]United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia, “Harrisonburg Man Pleads Guilty to Submitting Fraudulent Voter Registration Forms,” justice.gov, June 20, 2017 Case Notes: United States of America v. Andrew Spieles Case Number: 5:17CR00017 Statement of Facts | Type of Election: Voter Registration prior to the 2016 Presidential Election Party Affiliation: Former Staffer for a Political Organization Affiliated with the Democratic Party Theoretical Election Effect: No effect on Congressional or Presidential elections |
| 8. | Election Year: 2016 Name: Mary Patricia Taylor Party Affiliation: Party affiliation is not tracked in Virginia[33]Virginia does not register voters by party affiliation, according to the Virginia Department of Elections in an email response on 7/12/2021 Offense and Sentencing: Mary Patricia Taylor was found guilty on 9/7/2016 at the Hampton General District Court of one misdemeanor count of communicating false information to impede voters[34]Virginia Judiciary, Online Case Information System 2.0, “Hampton General District Court, Case #: GC16016827-00,” eapps.courts.state.va.us, accessed on May 10, 2022 in relation to offenses committed in the run up to a local school board election.[35]Peter Dujardin, “Hampton Schools Critic Convicted of Election Fraud, fined $300,” dailypress.com, July 24, 2017 Taylor was sentenced to 100 hours of community service and a fine of $1,000.[36]Peter Dujardin, “Hampton Schools Critic Convicted of Election Fraud, fined $300,” dailypress.com, July 24, 2017 After appeal, Taylor was found guilty of the same charge by a jury on 7/17/2017 at the Hampton Circuit Court and sentenced to a reduced fine of $300 plus $2,668 in associated costs.[37]Virginia Judiciary, Online Case Information System 2.0, “Hampton Circuit Court, Case #: CR16000965-00,” eapps.courts.state.va.us, accessed on May 10, 2022 | “A Hampton woman was convicted of election fraud last week – with a Circuit Court jury finding she intentionally used an incorrect election date on a fictitious campaign website. Mary Patricia Taylor, 57,… a longtime Hampton School Board activist and critic – anonymously registered a website in the name of one of the board candidates, Ann Stephens Cherry,… The website purported to endorse another candidate, Martha Mugler, with the site’s green and white coloring reminiscent of Mugler’s campaign materials. … Though it was legal to register the site in Cherry’s name and mock Mugler, prosecutors said Taylor broke state election law by announcing a May 10 voting date – a week past the real May 3 date.”[38]Peter Dujardin, “Hampton Schools Critic Convicted of Election Fraud, fined $300,” dailypress.com, July 24, 2017 Case Notes: Commonwealth of Virginia v. Mary Patricia Taylor Case Number: GC16016827-00 [Hampton General District Court] Case Number: CR16000965-00 [Hampton Circuit Court] | Type of Election: School Board Party Affiliation: Not Found Theoretical Election Effect: No effect on Congressional or Presidential elections |
| 9. | Election Year: 2016 Name: Vafalay Browne Massaquoi Party Affiliation: Not Found, but staff member for an advocacy group aligned with the Democratic Party[39]NBC Washington, “Man Charged With Filing Fake Voter Registration Applications in Va.,” nbcwashington.com, October 28, 2016[40]Virginia does not register voters by party affiliation, according to the Virginia Department of Elections in an email response on 7/12/2021 Offense and Sentencing: Vafalay Browne Massaquoi pleaded guilty on 1/12/2017[41]Rachel Weiner, “Man Admits Trying to Register Fake Voters for Virginia Progressive Group,” washingtonpost.com, January 12, 2017 to two felony counts of forging a public record and one felony count of election fraud,[42]Mary Ann Barton, “Alexandria Resident Found Guilty of Voter Registration Fraud,” patch.com, January 12, 2017 in relation to offenses committed in spring 2016.[43]NBC Washington, “Man Charged With Filing Fake Voter Registration Applications in Va.,” nbcwashington.com, October 28, 2016 For each count, Massaquoi was sentenced to five years in jail, suspended for five years, to run concurrently, with 90 days credit for time served, plus 500 hours of community service.[44]Mary Ann Barton, “Alexandria Resident Found Guilty of Voter Registration Fraud,” patch.com, January 12, 2017 | “In spring 2016, [Vafalay Browne] Massaquoi was registering new voters as an employee of the New Virginia Majority, an advocacy group aligned with the Democratic party. According to the Commonwealth’s Attorney, Massaquoi fabricated applications and used fake names to fill out the registration forms. … The fake applications were filed with the Alexandria Office of the General Registrar, who reported the issue to Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Porter. Porter said while the false applications were filed, no illegal votes were cast in this case.”[45]NBC Washington, “Man Charged With Filing Fake Voter Registration Applications in Va.,” nbcwashington.com, October 28, 2016 Case Notes: Commonwealth of Virginia v. Vafalay Browne Massaquoi Case Number: GC16003534-00, GC16003535-00, GC16003536-00, and GC16003538-00 | Type of Election: Voter Registration Party Affiliation: Not Found, but staff member for an advocacy group aligned with the Democratic Party Theoretical Election Effect: No effect on Congressional or Presidential elections |
References
| ↑1 | Melany Slaughter, “Voter Fraud Case Ends in District Court,” gazettejournal.net, January 27, 2021. |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | Virginia does not register voters by party affiliation, according to the Virginia Department of Elections in an email response on 7/12/2021 |
| ↑3, ↑5 | Virginia Judiciary, Online Case Information System 2.0, “Gloucester General District Court, Case #: GC20004707-00,” eapps.courts.state.va.us, accessed on May 9, 2022 |
| ↑4, ↑7 | Melany Slaughter, “Voter Fraud Case Ends in District Court,” gazettejournal.net, January 27, 2021 |
| ↑6 | Heritage Foundation, “Voter Fraud Report: Jonathan Meade West Sr.,” heritage.org, accessed on May 9, 2022 |
| ↑8, ↑25, ↑33, ↑40 | Virginia does not register voters by party affiliation, according to the Virginia Department of Elections in an email response on 7/12/2021 |
| ↑9, ↑11 | Virginia Judiciary, Online Case Information System 2.0, “Williamsburg/James City County Circuit Court, Case #: CR19028448-00,” eapps.courts.state.va.us, accessed on May 9, 2022 |
| ↑10 | Virginia Judiciary, Online Case Information System 2.0, “Williamsburg/James City County Circuit Court, Case #: CR19028447-00,” eapps.courts.state.va.us, accessed on May 9, 2022 |
| ↑12 | Steve Roberts, Jr, “Court Docs: James City Man Indicted on Voter Fraud Charges,” dailypress.com, April 9, 2019 |
| ↑13, ↑17 | 13News Now Staff, “Former Scott Taylor Campaign Staffer Pleads Guilty to Election Charge,” 13newsnow.com, September 24, 2020 |
| ↑14, ↑15 | Virginia Judiciary, Online Case Information System 2.0, “Virginia Beach Circuit Court, Case #: CR20000530-01,” eapps.courts.state.va.us, accessed on May 10, 2022 and Virginia Judiciary, Online Case Information System 2.0, “Virginia Beach Circuit Court, Case #: CR20000530-00,” eapps.courts.state.va.us, accessed on May 10, 2022 |
| ↑16 | Meagan Flynn, “Second Former Taylor Campaign Staffer Pleads Guilty to 2018 Election Fraud in VA.,” washingtonpost.com, September 24, 2020 |
| ↑18 | Jane Harper, “Second Former Scott Taylor Campaign Staffer Pleads Guilty to Election Fraud,” pilotonline.com, September 24, 2020 |
| ↑19 | Virginia Judiciary, Online Case Information System 2.0, “Virginia Beach Circuit Court, Case #: CR19001247-01,” eapps.courts.state.va.us, accessed on May 10, 2022 and Virginia Judiciary, Online Case Information System 2.0, “Virginia Beach Circuit Court, Case #: CR19001247-00,” eapps.courts.state.va.us, accessed on May 10, 2022 |
| ↑20 | Virginia Judiciary, Online Case Information System 2.0, “Virginia Beach Circuit Court, Case #: CR19001247-01,” eapps.courts.state.va.us, accessed on May 10, 2022 |
| ↑21 | Jane Harper, “Campaign Staffer for Former Rep. Scott Taylor Pleads Guilty in Petition Scandal,” pilotonline.com, March 3, 2020 |
| ↑22 | Angela Bohon, “Former Staffer With Scott Taylor’s Campaign Pleads Guilty in Relation to Election Fraud,” wtkr.com, March 30, 2021 |
| ↑23, ↑24 | Virginia Judiciary, Online Case Information System 2.0, “Virginia Beach Circuit Court, Case #: CR20001198-00,” eapps.courts.state.va.us, accessed on June 7, 2022 |
| ↑26, ↑27 | Virginia Judiciary, Online Case Information System 2.0, “Frederick Circuit Court, Case #: CR18000013-00,” eapps.courts.state.va.us, accessed on May 10, 2022 |
| ↑28 | Evan Goodenow, “Local Woman Pleads Guilty to Voter Fraud,” winchesterstar.com, June 12, 2018 |
| ↑29, ↑30, ↑31, ↑32 | United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia, “Harrisonburg Man Pleads Guilty to Submitting Fraudulent Voter Registration Forms,” justice.gov, June 20, 2017 |
| ↑34 | Virginia Judiciary, Online Case Information System 2.0, “Hampton General District Court, Case #: GC16016827-00,” eapps.courts.state.va.us, accessed on May 10, 2022 |
| ↑35, ↑36, ↑38 | Peter Dujardin, “Hampton Schools Critic Convicted of Election Fraud, fined $300,” dailypress.com, July 24, 2017 |
| ↑37 | Virginia Judiciary, Online Case Information System 2.0, “Hampton Circuit Court, Case #: CR16000965-00,” eapps.courts.state.va.us, accessed on May 10, 2022 |
| ↑39, ↑43, ↑45 | NBC Washington, “Man Charged With Filing Fake Voter Registration Applications in Va.,” nbcwashington.com, October 28, 2016 |
| ↑41 | Rachel Weiner, “Man Admits Trying to Register Fake Voters for Virginia Progressive Group,” washingtonpost.com, January 12, 2017 |
| ↑42, ↑44 | Mary Ann Barton, “Alexandria Resident Found Guilty of Voter Registration Fraud,” patch.com, January 12, 2017 |