(MACOMB COUNTY, MI) - Two men have been convicted in a signature-gathering fraud scheme that upended Michigan's 2022 race for governor and led to multiple candidates being kicked off the ballot.
A Macomb County jury found Shawn Wilmoth and Willie Reed guilty on multiple felony charges, including conducting a criminal enterprise and election law forgery. The case centered on thousands of fraudulent signatures submitted on nominating petitions during the 2022 election cycle.
The fraud resulted in the disqualification of several candidates, including former Detroit Police Chief James Craig and 2026 gubernatorial candidate Perry Johnson, after state officials determined large numbers of signatures were invalid.
Attorney General Dana Nessel said the scheme deprived voters of meaningful choices and defrauded multiple campaigns. Prosecutors said Wilmoth and Reed were paid more than $700,000 by campaigns for signature collection services. Investigators found no evidence the candidates themselves were aware of the fraud.
A third defendant was acquitted.
The case highlighted long-standing concerns about Michigan's largely unregulated signature-gathering process, which allows paid circulators to collect signatures without strict oversight.
Wilmoth and Reed are scheduled to be sentenced March 18. The most serious charges carry potential penalties of up to 20 years in prison.