Latest news with #MesaCountyClerkandRecorder'sOffice
American Military News
09-05-2025
- Politics
- American Military News
Fmr. USPS worker admits to major ballot scheme
A former United States Postal Service worker who was charged for her involvement in a voter fraud scheme ahead of the 2024 presidential election pleaded guilty on Monday. According to KREX-TV, former United States Postal Service employee Vicki Stuart and her friend, Sally Maxedon, were charged with stealing multiple ballots of residents in Mesa County, Colorado, filling out the ballots, and submitting the ballots to the Mesa County Clerk and Recorder's Office. KREX-TV reported that Stuart pleaded guilty on Monday to one count of forgery and one count of identity theft. The outlet noted that 32 other counts against the former United States Postal Service worker were dropped, including a charge for attempting to influence a public servant. According to KREX-TV, during Monday's brief court hearing, Stuart told 21st Judicial District Court Judge Brian Flynn, 'I feel guilty for the part I played.' ABC Denver 7 reported that prosecutors noted in the arrest affidavit against Stuart and Maxedon that the two 'conspired a plan to 'test' the voting signature system' to see if the county's signature verification program would detect fraudulent ballots. Stuart was accused of stealing ballots and providing them to Maxedon for the ballots to be filled out. READ MORE: Voter ID amendment passed in Wisconsin in 'Big Win' for GOP 'Sally explained that she and Stuart began conversations in October 2024, wherein Sally and Stuart conspired a plan to 'test' the voting signature system for ballots utilized at Elections,' the arrest affidavit stated. 'This plan included obtaining ballots, forging voter signatures, and then turning the ballots into Mesa County Elections Department.' The arrest affidavit added, 'The stated desired outcome was for Sally and Stuart to determine if the signature verification process would detect if the forged signatures were not those of the known voter signatures on file with Elections.' According to KREX-TV, sixteen voters reportedly had their ballots stolen in the Colorado voting fraud scheme. The outlet reported that Mesa County Elections staff members were alerted to the issue after residents reported having their ballots rejected due to signature discrepancies. Colorado Public Radio reported that state officials confirmed that three of the stolen ballots were processed through the Mesa County system and were counted.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
1 of 2 suspects in election fraud scandal pleads guilty
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) – In a hearing that lasted less than 10 minutes, Vicki Stuart – one of two suspects in last year's election fraud case – pled guilty for her role in the scheme. As part of the plea hearing, Stuart had 32 counts dropped. But she pled guilty to one count of identity theft and forgery, respectively. Stuart's other charges included an attempt to influence a public servant. Stuart said she doesn't dispute charges, telling Judge Brian Flynn, 'I feel guilty for the part I played.' Stuart and her friend, Sally Maxedon, were accused of stealing residents' ballots, filling them out before turning them in to the Mesa County Clerk and Recorder's Office. According to the original arrest affidavit, the pair wanted to 'test' the voting signature systems. Stuart worked at the United States Postal Service, and it's believed she took the ballots from USPS for Maxedon to fill out. As last reported, there were 16 known victims who had their ballots stolen. Alarm bells started going off at the Mesa County Elections just a few weeks before Election Daily. Staff learned residents received notifications that their ballots were rejected due to signature discrepancies. The voters said they never got their mail-in ballots. Originally, Maxedon admitted to the scheme while Stuart denied the claims. Stuart's sentencing hearing will be at 8:30 a.m., June 25. Maxedon will be in court at 9 a.m., Thursday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
