1 acquitted, 2 guilty in scheme that kept Michigan candidates off 2022 ballot

MountClemens—TwomenaccusedofbeingtheringleadersofasignaturefraudschemethatkeptthenamesofmultiplejudicialandgubernatorialcandidatesofftheAugust2022primaryballotwillbesentencednextmonthafterajuryfoundthemguiltyofforgingcitizensignatures. ShawnWilmothandWillieReedwerefoundguiltyMondaybyaMacombCountyjuryofforgingorallowingtheforgeryofsignaturesonnominatingpetitionsanddefraudingtheRepublicangubernatorialcampaignsofPerryJohnson,JamesCraig,MichaelBrownandMichaelMarkey,aswellasjudicialcandidatesTriciaDare,JohnCahalanandJohnMichaelMalone.DonnaBrandenburgwasalsodefrauded,buthernameappearedonthegeneralelectionballot.Onecandidatewasdefraudedbutlaterwithdrewfromrunning. ReedwasalsoconvictedofstealingfromRyanKelley’sgubernatorialcampaign,butWilmothwasacquitted. Wilmoth’swife,JamieWilmoth,wasaccusedofthesameacts,butthejuryfoundhernotguiltyonallcharges.