{
  "id": 6811105,
  "title": "California petition worker arrested for allegedly paying people to forge voter signs",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/california-petition-worker-arrested-for-allegedly-paying-people-to",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-11T22:09:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Guardian US",
    "slug": "the-guardian-us",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/11/california-petition-worker-arrested-identity-fraud"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "James Brass, 47, a California ballot petition worker, has been arrested and charged with identity fraud. Brass allegedly orchestrated a scheme where he paid people on Los Angeles' Skid Row to forge the signatures of registered voters. The operation involved two signature collectors, Courtney Price, 49, and Jateisha Herron, 33. Brass and his accomplices traveled across Southern California to seek out personal information and names of state voters from a public database. They then directed individuals on Skid Row to use the victims' identities in fraudulent petition signatures. Brass allegedly paid a total of $41,000 for the operation. Brass, Price, and Herron have all been charged with conspiracy to commit identity fraud. Brass and Herron have been additionally charged with identity fraud. Brass has pleaded not guilty and is out on a $10,000 bond. Brass's alleged scheme undermines voter confidence in election systems and faces a vigorous investigation.",
  "summary": "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 voters. Prosecutors say James Brass, 47, orchestrated the scheme with the help of two signature…",
  "key_points": [
    "James Brass, 47, arrested for alleged identity fraud in voter sign scheme",
    "Courtney Price, 49, and Jateisha Herron, 33, charged with aiding fraud",
    "Brass paid $41,000 for forging signatures of registered voters"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}