Particle.news

Download on the App Store

Nevada Pair Pleads Guilty in Minnesota Voter Registration Fraud Case

The guilty pleas wrap up a federal investigation into hundreds of fake Minnesota voter applications detected before any illegitimate ballots were cast.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson speaks during a news conference at the United States Courthouse in Minneapolis, Monday, June 16, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
FILE - Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon speaks to the media about early voting at the Minnesota State Capitol, Thursday, September 19, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Adam Bettcher, File)

Overview

  • Ronnie Williams, 58, pleaded guilty July 8 to conspiracy to commit voter registration fraud in U.S. District Court in St. Paul.
  • Lorraine Lee Combs entered her guilty plea on June 24 under a plea deal recommending up to six months in prison, supervised release and fines.
  • Federal prosecutors say the pair fabricated hundreds of voter registration applications using false names and Social Security numbers, submitting them through a group known as Foundation 1.
  • Minnesota’s built-in verification checks flagged the irregular applications in 2023, triggering an FBI investigation that collected fingerprint evidence linking the defendants to the forms.
  • Sentencing dates have not been set yet under federal guidelines that allow up to five years behind bars, but Minnesota officials note no fraudulent ballots were ever cast.