Federal prosecutors have arrested James Brass, 47, in Victorville, California, in connection with an alleged scheme to defraud the state's election process. Brass is accused of orchestrating a ballot harvesting operation where homeless individuals in Los Angeles' Skid Row neighborhood were paid to sign ballot petitions using the identities of registered voters.
Brass, also known as "Lord," is charged with conspiracy to commit identity fraud in furtherance of a state felony, along with Courtney Price, 49, of Jacksonville, Florida, and Jateisha Herron, 33, of Boron, California. Brass and Price face additional charges of identity fraud in furtherance of a state felony.
According to the Justice Department, the alleged scheme ran from February to August. Brass and his associates reportedly obtained voter identities from a database and provided this information to homeless individuals in Skid Row. These individuals were then allegedly paid to sign petitions in the names of the registered voters.
Following the alleged fraudulent signings, Brass and Herron are accused of signing declarations stating they witnessed the registered voters sign the petitions and that the signatures were genuine. The bogus petitions were then submitted to petition management companies. Authorities claim Brass received $41,600 from one such company.
FBI Director Kash Patel stated on X that "Securing American elections from criminal interference is of the utmost importance to the FBI." Bill Essayli, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, added that his office "will vigorously investigate and charge anyone involved in corrupting our elections."
If convicted, all three defendants face up to five years in prison per count. Brass was expected to appear in court on Thursday.