Latest news with #LorraineCombs
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
2 Nevada residents charged with conspiring to commit voter registration fraud in Minnesota
The Brief Two residents of Nevada were charged with conspiring to commit voter registration fraud in Minnesota. From 2021 to 2022, the two conspired to create fake names and information to fill out Minnesota voter registration applications. The Minnesota Secretary of State said no fraudulent ballots were ever cast. MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Two Nevada residents have been federally charged with conspiring to engage in voter fraud in Minnesota, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Friday. What we know According to the DOJ, Ronnie Williams, 58, and Lorraine Lee Combs, 57, Nevada residents formerly of Minnesota, have been charged with conspiracy to engage in voter registration fraud. Starting in 2021 through 2022, Combs and Williams conspired to fill out fake names and information on Minnesota voter registration applications, the DOJ said. Both signed a form that certified they were aware that giving false information on a voter registration form is a felony that could lead to five years in prison or a $10,000 fine or both. Williams then gave the false voter registration forms to a foundation which was seeking to register voters in Minnesota, the DOJ states. The foundation then submitted those voter registration applications to county election offices across Minnesota. According to the DOJ, the foundation would then pay Williams, and he would split it with Combs. The foundation is unnamed and referred to only as "Foundation 1" in charging documents. FOX 9 has reached out to the DOJ to ask why the foundation isn't named and if the foundation is facing charges. Combs and Williams were paid contractors "assisting" the foundation with its voter registration campaign, court documents said. Timeline Court documents state that on Sept. 30, 2022, Combs completed a false voter registration application under the name "Brad Montly" and again on Nov. 1, 2022, under the name "Harry Jhonson". These fake voter registration applications included, on top of fake names, fake addresses, dates of birth, phone numbers and social security numbers, court documents allege. What we don't know Court documents did not say what foundation Combs and Williams worked with. It is unknown how many false voter registration applications were filed. What's next Williams is set to appear for an arraignment and change of plea hearing on July 8. What they're saying The Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State said no fraudulent ballots were cast in connection with this case. The office partnered with the FBI for over two years on the investigation. The office continued by saying that local election officials used verification tools and found inconsistencies in the voter registration forms and informed law enforcement and the Secretary of State's office. The office then worked with "every county election office" to confirm no fraudulent ballots were cast. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon provided the following statement regarding the case: "Minnesota's elections are free, fair, and secure – and these charges reinforce that fact. These charges prove that our systems work. The extensive checks in Minnesota's voter registration process ensured that the fraudulent applications were immediately flagged, and no ineligible votes were cast. "Our office is deeply grateful for the dedicated election officials across the state and all of our federal partners who protected the integrity of our voter registration system. "Our message to would-be fraudsters is clear: If you try to trick or scheme your way into registering voters in Minnesota, you will be caught and prosecuted." Federal officials also reacted to the charges: "Election fraud strikes at the heart of our democracy," said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. "Thankfully, the FBI stopped this fraud in its tracks, before anyone successfully cast a fraudulent ballot. But we will stay vigilant. Whether its jury bribery, witness tampering, or now election fraud—crimes that threaten our democracy have no place in Minnesota." "Nothing is more central to our democracy than fair and impartially conducted elections," said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. "Through their actions, Combs and Williams attempted to deprive the citizens of Minnesota of a secure and reliable election process. Along with our partners, the FBI will stop at nothing to identify and bring to justice anyone who threatens the security of our electoral system." The Source A press release from the U.S. Department of Justice, and federal court documents.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Minnesota's election safeguards stopped a voter fraud scheme in its tracks, secretary of state says
Two people have been charged with conspiracy to commit voter registration fraud in a case that shows Minnesota 's election safeguards work and prevented anyone from voting illegally, Secretary of State Steve Simon said Friday. The charges announced by the U.S. Attorney's Office allege that Ronnie Williams and Lorraine Lee Combs generated fictitious names and other data they used to fill out Minnesota voter registration forms in 2021 and 2022. The charging documents, filed in federal court on Tuesday, say Williams provided the completed forms to an entity that sought to register voters in Minnesota that is identified only as 'Foundation 1,' which paid him, and that he then split the proceeds with Combs. The documents also indicate that others were involved in the alleged conspiracy, serving as intermediaries between Williams and 'Foundation 1,' which would submit the false registration forms to election offices across the state 'through its agents,' but charges against them have not been announced. Williams and Combs were longtime romantic partners, according to the documents, which don't say how much they were paid. The charges are the result of a two-year investigation by the FBI and the Secretary of State's Office and are punishable by up to five years in prison. 'The extensive checks in Minnesota's voter registration process ensured that the fraudulent applications were immediately flagged, and no ineligible votes were cast,' Simon said in a statement. While voter fraud does happen occasionally, the country's processes provide many safeguards that generally keep it detectable and rare. When it happens, it tends to get caught and prosecuted. 'Election fraud strikes at the heart of our democracy,' Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson said in a separate statement. 'Thankfully, the FBI stopped this fraud in its tracks, before anyone successfully cast a fraudulent ballot. But we will stay vigilant.' Court documents suggest that the two defendants plan to plead guilty. They were charged by complaints instead of grand jury indictments, which are normally needed to take a case to trial in federal court. And the case dockets show that Williams has a plea agreement hearing set for July 8, while Combs has a change of plea hearing on June 24. Attorneys for Williams and Combs declined to comment on the charges. The announcement from prosecutors said the two are Nevada residents who formerly lived in Minnesota. Neither has a listed phone number in either state. But Combs told the Minnesota Star Tribune that she filled out roughly 500 forms as part of the operation and turned them over to Williams. She told the newspaper that she didn't know the name of the foundation, and she didn't know how many applications Williams completed illegally. Simon's office said local officials used verification tools that are built into the state's voter registration system to identify inconsistencies on the forms, then immediately reported them to law enforcement and his office. The office then worked with every county election office to confirm that all fraudulent registration attempts would be detected and confirm that no ballots were wrongly requested or cast. 'Our message to would-be fraudsters is clear: If you try to trick or scheme your way into registering voters in Minnesota, you will be caught and prosecuted,' Simon said.
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Minnesota's election safeguards stopped a voter fraud scheme in its tracks, secretary of state says
MINNEAPOLIS — Two people have been charged with conspiracy to commit voter registration fraud in a case that shows Minnesota's election safeguards work and prevented anyone from voting illegally, Secretary of State Steve Simon said Friday. The charges announced by the U.S. Attorney's Office allege that Ronnie Williams and Lorraine Lee Combs generated fictitious names and other data they used to fill out Minnesota voter registration forms in 2021 and 2022.
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Minnesota's election safeguards stopped a voter fraud scheme in its tracks, secretary of state says
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Two people have been charged with conspiracy to commit voter registration fraud in a case that shows Minnesota's election safeguards work and prevented anyone from voting illegally, Secretary of State Steve Simon said Friday. The charges announced by the U.S. Attorney's Office allege that Ronnie Williams and Lorraine Lee Combs generated fictitious names and other data they used to fill out Minnesota voter registration forms in 2021 and 2022. The charging documents, filed in federal court on Tuesday, say Williams provided the completed forms to an entity that sought to register voters in Minnesota that is identified only as 'Foundation 1,' which paid him, and that he then split the proceeds with Combs. The documents also indicate that others were involved in the alleged conspiracy, serving as intermediaries between Williams and 'Foundation 1,' which would submit the false registration forms to election offices across the state 'through its agents,' but charges against them have not been announced. Williams and Combs were longtime romantic partners, according to the documents, which don't say how much they were paid. The charges are the result of a two-year investigation by the FBI and the Secretary of State's Office and are punishable by up to five years in prison. 'The extensive checks in Minnesota's voter registration process ensured that the fraudulent applications were immediately flagged, and no ineligible votes were cast,' Simon said in a statement. While voter fraud does happen occasionally, the country's processes provide many safeguards that generally keep it detectable and rare. When it happens, it tends to get caught and prosecuted. 'Election fraud strikes at the heart of our democracy,' Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson said in a separate statement. 'Thankfully, the FBI stopped this fraud in its tracks, before anyone successfully cast a fraudulent ballot. But we will stay vigilant.' Court documents suggest that the two defendants plan to plead guilty. They were charged by complaints instead of grand jury indictments, which are normally needed to take a case to trial in federal court. And the case dockets show that Williams has a plea agreement hearing set for July 8, while Combs has a change of plea hearing on June 24. Attorneys for Williams and Combs declined to comment on the charges. The announcement from prosecutors said the two are Nevada residents who formerly lived in Minnesota. Neither has a listed phone number in either state. But Combs told the Minnesota Star Tribune that she filled out roughly 500 forms as part of the operation and turned them over to Williams. She told the newspaper that she didn't know the name of the foundation, and she didn't know how many applications Williams completed illegally. Simon's office said local officials used verification tools that are built into the state's voter registration system to identify inconsistencies on the forms, then immediately reported them to law enforcement and his office. The office then worked with every county election office to confirm that all fraudulent registration attempts would be detected and confirm that no ballots were wrongly requested or cast. 'Our message to would-be fraudsters is clear: If you try to trick or scheme your way into registering voters in Minnesota, you will be caught and prosecuted,' Simon said.
