{"id":2657912,"date":"2026-09-10T22:03:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-11T02:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fbi-busts-scheme-to-use-skid-row-homeless-to-steal-voters-identities-for-ballot-petitions\/"},"modified":"2026-09-10T22:07:45","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T02:07:45","slug":"fbi-busts-scheme-to-use-skid-row-homeless-to-steal-voters-identities-for-ballot-petitions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fbi-busts-scheme-to-use-skid-row-homeless-to-steal-voters-identities-for-ballot-petitions\/","title":{"rendered":"FBI Busts Scheme to Use Skid-Row Homeless to Steal Voters&#8217; Identities for Ballot Petitions"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ffbi-busts-scheme-to-use-skid-row-homeless-to-steal-voters-identities-for-ballot-petitions%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2657912&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The FBI announced the accomplished thwarting of an identity fraud scheme related too California ballot initiatives.A man from Victorville,James brass,along wiht two petition circulators,Courtney Price and Jateisha Herron,were arrested for allegedly paying homeless individuals on Skid Row to sign petitions using stolen voter identities to qualify initiatives and amendments for ballots. The scheme involved using stolen voter data obtained through a database called SIGVALID, with defendants claiming to witness valid signatures under penalty of perjury. Brass reportedly received about $41,600 for his role in managing signature collectors. Authorities emphasized that such <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tim-kaine-admits-va-democrats-gerrymandering-was-never-about-fair-maps\/\" title=\"Kaine Admits Dems&#039; Gerry...dering Was Never About &#039;Fair Maps&#039;\">actions undermine election integrity<\/a> and are pursuing charges of conspiracy to commit identity fraud. The inquiry stemmed from undercover journalism exposing the scheme, and the FBI continues to prioritize safeguarding election processes from criminal interference. The suspects face potential prison sentences and are presumed innocent until proven guilty.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>The Federal Bureau of Investigation announced Thursday that it thwarted an identity fraud scheme linked to fake signatures for ballot initiatives in California.<\/p>\n<p>The Department of Justice put out a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/usao-cdca\/pr\/victorville-man-arrested-federal-indictment-alleging-he-paid-people-sign-ballot\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news release<\/a> stating that a San Bernardino County man had been arrested on a federal grand jury indictment \u201ccharging him and two other defendants with paying people on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles to sign petitions using stolen identities of registered voters to qualify initiatives on ballots in California elections.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>James Brass, 47, also known as \u201cLord,\u201d of Victorville, was charged, along with two petition circulators, Courtney Price, 49, of Jacksonville, Florida, and Jateisha Herron, 33, of Boron, California.<\/p>\n<p>FBI Director Kash Patel commented about the case on X, writing, \u201cThis morning, the FBI and our partners arrested a subject near Los Angeles for allegedly paying homeless individuals on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles to sign petitions in support of ballot initiatives\u2014all using stolen identities of registered voters. Two additional petition circulators have also been charged in the investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll three subjects are charged with conspiracy to commit identity fraud in furtherance of a state felony, among other charges,\u201d he continued. \u201cSecuring American elections from criminal interference is of the utmost importance to this FBI. If you mess with our elections, this FBI will find you.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">\ud83d\udea8 This morning, the FBI and our partners arrested a subject near Los Angeles for allegedly paying homeless individuals on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles to sign petitions in support of ballot initiatives\u2014all using stolen identities of registered voters.<\/p>\n<p>Two additional\u2026<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/FBIDirectorKash\/status\/2098070417881575742?\">September 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Undercover journalist James O\u2019Keefe also posted about the indictments on social media, citing an investigation by O\u2019Keefe Media Group from earlier this year.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur LA Skid Row undercover investigation captured people being offered cash to sign petitions and register to vote, including individuals being provided addresses to use on voter registration forms. Brass (\u201cLORD\u201d) is now in custody,\u201d he wrote on X.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe will appear in the riverside federal court this afternoon for his bond hearing. Now, according to the DOJ indictment, defendants used a voter database called SIGVALID to obtain the identities of registered California voters, gave those identities to petition signers, and paid them to fraudulently sign petitions in those voters\u2019 names. Brenda Brown Armstrong, who was featured in our original reporting, has already been charged.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">BREAKING NEWS: DOJ INDICTS HIGHER-UPS IN LA SKID ROW PETITION FRAUD SCHEME EXPOSED BY O\u2019KEEFE<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this year, our LA Skid Row undercover investigation captured people being offered cash to sign petitions and register to vote, including individuals being provided addresses to\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ciCVjn60Md\">https:\/\/t.co\/ciCVjn60Md<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/MPjEh3tCsn\">pic.twitter.com\/MPjEh3tCsn<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 James O\u2019Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/JamesOKeefeIII\/status\/2098058098627739847?\">September 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli said, \u201cThese defendants are charged with using stolen identities of registered voters to manufacture signatures on ballot petitions used to shape California law.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey allegedly used people, including members of Skid Row\u2019s vulnerable homeless population, to try to cover up their tracks,\u201d he explained. \u201cThe charged conduct undermines the confidence voters have in our election systems, and we will vigorously investigate and charge anyone involved.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Patrick Grandy, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI\u2019s Los Angeles Field Office, issued a statement saying that election integrity is of the utmost importance in the U.S., and it must be protected.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is imperative that Americans have confidence in our voting system and election infrastructure,\u201d Grandy said. \u201cThe scheme outlined in today\u2019s indictment sought to undermine an essential pillar of our democracy and cause an undue burden on taxpayers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He added, \u201cWe will remain vigilant in detecting those trying to weaken our political process and we will aggressively investigate any allegations of voter fraud or other election crimes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The California Constitution allows voters to circumvent lawmakers and enshrine statutes or constitutional amendments by voting on them, but each measure must first reach a certain signature threshold before it can be considered.<\/p>\n<p>According to the DOJ, proposed initiatives must receive 546,651 valid signatures, and proposed amendments must garner 874,641. Proponents have six months to gather the signatures and must submit them no later than four months before election day.<\/p>\n<p>The indictment stated that Brass oversaw a team of signature collectors from February to August. They allegedly committed fraud by claiming that they witnessed valid signature transitions, under penalty of perjury.<\/p>\n<p>Brass reportedly received about $41,600 for his efforts from a petition management company.<\/p>\n<p>The defendants are potentially facing a maximum of five years in federal prison for each count, but remain innocent until proven guilty.<\/p>\n<p>The FBI is continuing to investigate the matter.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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