Federal authorities announced Thursday that James Brass, 47, of Victorville, California, was taken into custody on charges of conspiracy and identity fraud for allegedly orchestrating a scheme that paid homeless people on Los Angeles’ Skid Row to forge signatures on petitions for local ballot measures.
Alleged scheme
According to the Justice Department, Brass – known by the nickname “Lord” – managed a team of signature collectors and personally gathered signatures. He, along with co‑defendants Courtney Price, 49, of Jacksonville, Florida, and Jateisha Herron, 33, of Boron, California, are accused of obtaining voter information from a database between February and August and handing that data to homeless individuals on Skid Row. The participants were then paid to sign petitions in the names of registered voters.
After the forged signatures were collected, Brass and Herron allegedly signed declarations stating they personally witnessed each voter sign the petition and that each signature was, to the best of their knowledge, “the genuine signature of the person whose name it purports to be.” The fraudulent petitions were subsequently turned in to petition coordinators, with prosecutors saying Brass received $41,600 from a petition‑management company for the operation.
Federal response
FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized the importance of protecting American elections, writing on X, “Securing American elections from criminal interference is of the utmost importance to the FBI. If you mess with our elections, the FBI will find you.” Bill Essayli, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, added that the alleged conduct “undermines the confidence voters have in our election systems,” and pledged a vigorous investigation.
Potential penalties
Each defendant faces up to five years in prison per count if convicted. Brass is expected to appear in court later Thursday. The case underscores ongoing federal efforts to combat ballot‑harvesting fraud and protect the legitimacy of local initiatives that directly affect community members.
Local impact
Los Angeles officials have repeatedly warned that fraudulent signature collection threatens the democratic process, especially in a city where ballot measures can shape housing policy, public safety funding, and other critical local issues. Community leaders on Skid Row have expressed concern that vulnerable residents are being exploited for illegal activities, further highlighting the need for robust safeguards and transparent petition practices.
The FBI’s swift action sends a clear message that attempts to manipulate voter‑signature processes will be pursued aggressively, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to election integrity at every level of government.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
