Federal authorities charged three people on Sept. 10 in connection with an alleged scheme to pay homeless residents of Los Angeles’ Skid Row to sign ballot petitions using stolen identities of registered voters, according to a federal grand jury indictment.
The U.S. Department of Justice confirmed the arrests of James Brass, 47, of Victorville, California; Courtney Price, 49, of Jacksonville, Florida; and Jateisha Herron, 33, of Boron, California. All three face charges of conspiracy to commit identity fraud in furtherance of a state felony, with Brass and Price additionally charged with identity fraud in furtherance of a state felony.
Brass was taken into federal custody in Victorville on Sept. 10 and was scheduled to appear in Riverside District Court. Price and Herron were charged but have not been arrested as of publication. A deputy federal public defender representing Brass did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and representatives for Price and Herron could not be reached.
Federal Charges and Alleged Scheme
The indictment alleges that from February through August 2026, Brass and his associates recruited homeless individuals on Skid Row to sign petitions in exchange for cash, using the identities of registered voters obtained from a database. The petitions were reportedly used to qualify ballot initiatives for California elections.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the conduct “undermines the confidence voters have in our election systems.” The FBI also emphasized the case’s significance, with Director Kash Patel writing on X: “Securing American elections from criminal interference is of the utmost importance to this FBI. If you mess with our elections, this FBI will find you.”
The arrests follow an undercover investigation by independent journalist James O’Keefe, whose March 24 video showed homeless individuals on Skid Row being offered cash in exchange for signing petitions. O’Keefe’s reporting alleged that signature collectors managed by Brass paid homeless participants to use stolen voter identities.
Legal and Political Context
The case is part of a statewide federal operation announced on Sept. 5 to crack down on election fraud. Prosecutors allege that the defendants’ actions violated California election laws by fabricating signatures to influence ballot initiatives.
If convicted, each defendant faces up to five years in prison for each count. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California has not indicated whether the defendants have legal representation at this time.
The indictment describes Brass as operating under the nickname “Lord” and managing a company named Pinnacle Brass LLC, which allegedly facilitated the petition collection operation. The Los Angeles Times reported that Brass allegedly collected signatures himself while overseeing a team of circulators, including Price and Herron.
Background: Skid Row and Signature Collection
Skid Row, a neighborhood in downtown Los Angeles, is home to one of the largest concentrations of homeless individuals in the U.S. The area has been a focal point for discussions about ballot harvesting and signature collection practices, particularly in high-stakes election cycles.
The Department of Justice has framed the case as part of broader efforts to protect election integrity, while critics of the operation argue that such enforcement may disproportionately target vulnerable populations or obscure systemic issues in petition processes. No additional details on the ballot initiatives involved have been released by federal authorities.