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Coverage dated September 10, 2026 to September 11, 2026

Skid Row scheme: Feds say man paid homeless people to sign California ballot petitions

Headline from Foxla, on the newest of 2 developments

A Victorville man was arrested for allegedly paying people on Skid Row to sign petitions using stolen identities of registered voters to qualify initiatives on ballots in California elections. James Brass, 47, was released on a $10,000 bond following his initial court appearance in Riverside and ple…

Foxla's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Developments in this update

2 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.

  1. Man charged with paying LA Skid Row denizens to sign ballot measure petitions

    Headline from Courthouse News Service ·

  2. Newest

    Skid Row scheme: Feds say man paid homeless people to sign California ballot petitions

    Headline from Foxla ·

Read the reports

Reports & sources

11 articles, oldest first.

  1. New York Post

    Skid Row ‘Lord’ surprises feds with 5am getaway as he’s accused of massive ballot harvesting scheme (opens New York Post)

    Published

    New York Post's feed description

    Federal agents on Thursday captured an accused election fraud ringleader who allegedly paid Skid Row homeless a few bucks each to sign California ballot petitions using the stolen identities of real voters. The FBI apprehended alleged election crook James Brass, a.k.a.

  2. Los Angeles Times

    Skid Row residents were paid to sign ballot petitions with stolen identities, feds charge (opens Los Angeles Times)

    Published

    Los Angeles Times's feed description

    James Brass, 47, allegedly managed a team of signature collectors and also collected signatures himself for ballot petitions used to shape California law, according to a federal indictment returned Wednesday.

  3. Fox News

    FBI arrests suspect accused of paying LA homeless to forge signatures using registered voters' identities (opens Fox News)

    Published

    Fox News's feed description

    James Brass allegedly ran a ballot harvesting scheme on Los Angeles' Skid Row, paying homeless people to sign petitions using stolen voter identities.

  4. PJ Media

    Feds Arrest California Fraudster Who Paid Homeless to Sign for Other Voters (opens PJ Media)

    Published

  5. Townhall

    Skid Row Signature Scandal: Three Indicted in Alleged California Ballot Petition Fraud (opens Townhall)

    Published

  6. Courthouse News Service

    Man charged with paying LA Skid Row denizens to sign ballot measure petitions (opens Courthouse News Service)

    Published

    Courthouse News Service's feed description

    According to prosecutors, James Brass had people use names of real registered voters to sign petitions.

  7. KESQ Palm Springs

    3 accused of paying for fake petition signatures on Skid Row in DTLA (opens KESQ Palm Springs)

    Published

    KESQ Palm Springs's feed description

    LOS ANGELES (KESQ) - A 47-year-old man arrested today was among three defendants facing federal charges for allegedly paying people on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles to sign petitions using stolen identities of registered voters to qualify initiatives on ballots in California elections.

  8. Just the News

    Three people charged with paying homeless in Los Angeles to sign petitions with stolen identities (opens Just the News)

    Published

    Just the News's feed description

    All three defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit identity fraud in furtherance of a state felony. Brass and Price are charged with an additional count of identity fraud in furtherance of a state felony.

  9. ABC 7 Los Angeles

    3 people charged with allegedly using LA's homeless to forge signatures for ballot propositions (opens ABC 7 Los Angeles)

    Published

    ABC 7 Los Angeles's feed description

    Several people were charged with conspiracy to commit identity fraud tied to forged signatures to help get propositions on the ballot.

  10. Foxla

    Skid Row scheme: Feds say man paid homeless people to sign California ballot petitions (opens Foxla)

    Published

    Foxla's feed description

    A Victorville man was arrested for allegedly paying people on Skid Row to sign petitions using stolen identities of registered voters to qualify initiatives on ballots in California elections. James Brass, 47, was released on a $10,000 bond following his initial court appearance in Riverside and ple…

  11. The Guardian

    California petition worker arrested for allegedly paying people to forge voter signs (opens The Guardian)

    Published

    The Guardian's feed description

    Prosecutors say James Brass orchestrated scheme to pay people on LA’s Skid Row to duplicate registered voters’ signatures A California ballot petition worker has been arrested and charged with identity fraud for allegedly paying people on Los Angeles’ Skid Row to forge the signatures of registered v…