A Macomb County judge sentenced Shawn Wilmoth to a four-to-20-year prison term and ordered restitution of $376,601 for a petition signature fraud scheme that affected eight candidates in the 2022 Republican primary.

Willmoth and co-defendant Willie Reed were convicted on multiple counts, including conducting a criminal enterprise, false pretenses, computer crimes, larceny by conversion, and election law forgery.

The two were hired to collect signatures and charged campaigns $350,000 for valid signatures before delivering counterfeit ones, a scheme that prosecutors say sabotaged ballot access.

The case stands out as an unprecedented instance of election petition fraud in Michigan’s electoral process.

The sentencing comes as candidates gear up to submit petition signatures for upcoming elections, with heightened scrutiny of petition validity.

Attorney General Dana Nessel said the defendants’ actions undermined the electoral process and stressed deterrence and accountability for fraud.

Nessel described the scheme as calculated, undermining voters’ choices in 2022 and signaling a firm commitment to protecting electoral integrity.

Prosecutors allege the fraud directly benefited one party’s candidates, while the defense contends the motive was financial rather than political.

State election officials detected irregularities in May 2022, including a “round-tabling” tactic where circulators alternated handwriting to feign authenticity.

Investigators say fraudulent signatures caused several candidates to be disqualified from the 2022 ballot, exposing vulnerabilities in the petition process.

Judge Christopher A. Maceroni noted sentencing guidelines were advisory and that the case’s uniqueness allowed for potential deviation, while upholding the jury verdict.

Victim impact statements highlighted that fraud harmed voters, potentially affecting the August and November elections and the credibility of the process.