Federal agents arrested James Brass, accused of leading a ballot petition fraud scheme, in Victorville, California, early Thursday morning. Brass, also known by the moniker "Lord," was apprehended by the FBI around 6 a.m. after leaving his residence, according to federal authorities.
Authorities allege that Brass operated his scheme through Pinnacle Brass, a company registered with the California Secretary of State. The indictment charges Brass and two alleged petition circulators, Courtney Price of Jacksonville, Florida, and Jateisha Herron of Boron, California, with conspiracy to commit identity fraud. Brass and Price face an additional charge of identity fraud.
According to prosecutors, the defendants used stolen identities of registered voters to create fraudulent signatures on ballot petitions. "These defendants used stolen identities of registered voters to manufacture signatures on ballot petitions used to shape California law," said LA's top federal prosecutor Bill Essayli. "They preyed on the vulnerable homeless population and used them to try to cover their tracks."
It is alleged that Brass paid at least $41,000 for collected signatures. The exact number of fake signatures and the specific ballot measures involved remain unclear.
Brass, 47, reportedly emerged from his home shortly before 5 a.m. and entered his vehicle, surprising federal agents who had been surveilling the property. Agents followed Brass to a local gas station where he was taken into custody without incident.
