Voter Registration Recruiter Pleads Guilty to Fraud Charge

St. Louis, MO: Deidra Humphrey pleaded guilty to a fraud charge in connection with submitting false information on voter fraud registration cards, United States Attorney Catherine L. Hanaway announced today.

According to court documents, Humphrey worked as a voter registration recruiter in 2008, including with Missouri Progressive Vote Coalition ("MPVC"). Humphrey knew that MPVC required her to submit valid voter registration cards, including cards that had been duly signed by the purported applicant. Despite this requirement, in order to prop up her numbers, Humphrey submitted false and forged voter registration cards to MPVC, which were then submitted to the Boards of Election in St. Louis County and the City of St. Louis. Humphrey knew that her actions were illegal and would result in her getting paid for work that she did not lawfully complete.

Humphrey, 44, of East St. Louis, Illinois, pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud before United States District Judge E. Richard Webber. Humphrey now faces a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison and/or a maximum fine of $250,000, when she is sentenced on June 11, 2009.

Hanaway commended the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department for referring this case to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for prosecution. Assistant United States Attorney John Bodenhausen is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.