MARINA DEL RAY—On May 18, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Public Affairs announced charges against Brenda Lee Brown Armstrong, 64, for paying unhoused individuals to register to vote many who lived in Skid Row.
According to the DOJ, Armstrong worked as what is referred to as a “petition circulator,” for approximately 20 years.
“According to her plea agreement, for approximately 20 years, Armstrong periodically worked as a “petition circulator.” In that role, she was paid by individuals and entities – known as “coordinators” – to collect voter signatures on official petitions that qualify initiatives, referendums, and recalls for California state ballots. Armstrong drove around the Los Angeles area to find registered voters to sign the petitions,” states the press release from the DOJ.
Armstrong known as “Anika,” is charged with one felony count of paying another person to register to vote, which is a federal charge that carries a statutory maximum penalty of 5 years in prison.
Over the last two decades, the defendant went into homeless communities of Los Angeles and paid residents $2-$3 to sign her petitions and register them to vote.
A requirement of registering to vote in California is providing a physical address. The address is used to send the vote-by mail ballots. Armstrong used her former Los Angeles address.
“False registrations undermine Americans’ faith in elections, even more so when pay-offs were involved. This Justice Department is committed to ensuring that all U.S. elections are fair and free from illegal meddling, so that all Americans can accept the results with confidence,” said Harmeet K. Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General For Civil Rights.
The FBI and investigators with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California investigated this matter with assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Wheat and Nandor Kiss prosecuting the case.
