Three individuals are facing serious criminal charges, including forgery and conducting a criminal enterprise, related to a fraudulent petition signature operation that impacted the 2022 Michigan gubernatorial race. The scheme ultimately led to the disqualification of five Republican candidates from the ballot.
Shawn Wilmoth, 36, Jamie Wilmoth, 36, and Willie Reed, 37, each face over 20 charges in a court near Detroit. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel described the competitive gubernatorial race, which initially included nearly a dozen Republican hopefuls, as a tempting target for fraudulent activities.
The high financial incentives offered by campaigns to signature-gathering firms, sometimes exceeding $10 per signature, created a breeding ground for illicit practices, according to Nessel. She highlighted the lack of regulations preventing the hiring of individuals with criminal records for signature collection, which further exacerbated the issue.
Among the candidates affected were prominent figures like former Detroit Police Chief James Craig and businessman Perry Johnson, who were both considered strong contenders for the Republican nomination. Three other candidates were also removed from the ballot due to insufficient valid signatures following the discovery of widespread fraudulent signatures within their petitions.
Nessel also revealed that three judicial candidates in the Detroit area were victims of the scheme. Importantly, no candidates have been accused of knowingly submitting fraudulent petitions. While the Wilmoths appeared in court, authorities were still searching for Reed at the time of the report.
Reports indicate that Shawn Wilmoth was connected to First Choice Contracting LLC, a signature-gathering firm that reportedly received over $200,000 from at least two of the disqualified gubernatorial candidates. Following the fallout from the scandal, Tudor Dixon secured the Republican nomination but ultimately lost to incumbent Governor Gretchen Whitmer in the general election. Meanwhile, Perry Johnson has shifted his focus to the national stage, actively campaigning in Iowa for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
