| For Immediate Release January 3, 2007 |
Contact: Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel (714) 347-8408 Office (714) 292-2718 Cell |
COUPLE SENTENCED FOR UNLAWFULLY REGISTERING UNSUSPECTING PEOPLE TO VOTE
*Twelve defendants were charged after a 5-month joint investigation between the Orange County District Attorney and California Secretary of State
SANTA ANA – A boyfriend and girlfriend were sentenced for filing fraudulent California Voter Registration cards in Orange County. Jason Holly, 36, and Jessica Sundell, 23, pleaded guilty to the court in November 2006 and were sentenced today to felony terms of formal probation, as well as received credit for time served. The couple first met when Holly approached Sundell outside a bar and tried to solicit voter registration information from her. They later joined in efforts to register people without their permission.
Ten other defendants were charged in October for the fraudulent completion of affidavit of registration. Defendants Daniel Bates, 36, Sal Castillo, 26, Christopher Dinoff, 31, Donahue Farrow, 34, Rick Floyd, 28, Jason Hayes, 19, Anthony Ogwo, 49, Daniel Ricca, 33, and Susan Williamsen, 34, have pending court dates and defendant Don Williams, 45, is a fugitive. The maximum penalty on each count of the fraudulent completion of affidavits of registration is up to three years in prison.
The California Secretary of State and the Orange County District Attorney conducted a 5-month joint investigation after receiving numerous complaints from citizens who were being registered and re-registered to vote without their knowledge. In most cases, the frauds occurred in front of grocery stores, large retail establishments, or on school campuses. The solicitors, or circulators, are accused of soliciting shoppers and students to sign petitions, usually in support of stricter sex offender laws or lower taxes, and unwittingly obtaining a signature on a voter registration card. The victims would sign the petitions and a voter registration form, but would not fill out the information on the rest of the form.
The defendants are accused of acquiring the victims’ personal information, such as addresses and dates of birth, by checking their IDs and forging voter party registration information in the victims’ name without the victims’ knowledge or consent. They were paid $10 by petition companies and campaign coordinators for each new voter form, as well as bonuses for gathering petition signatures on statewide ballot initiatives.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Dan Hess of the Felony Projects Unit prosecuted this case.
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