On July 30, 2025, Maria Guadalupe Bautista, 26, was convicted on 13 counts of fraudulent use of personal information following a jury trial in Marion County, Florida.
Bautista was arrested in 2023 after an investigation revealed she used personal information, including that of an elected official, to falsify signatures on petitions for a Constitutional Amendment 21-16, related to limited authorization of casino gaming.
In November 2021, the Marion County Supervisor of Elections, Wesley Wilcox, reported suspected fraud to the Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office. Staff identified two fraudulent petitions signed by Bautista, a paid petition circulator. Further review found multiple petition forms with signatures not matching voter rolls, including two from deceased voters.
Investigator Jeff Pfannerstill from the State Attorney’s Office and Inspector Adam Graff from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) investigated. Bautista admitted to working for a political action committee after responding to a Craigslist ad. She confirmed her signature on a fraudulent petition containing a Marion County elected official’s information but claimed she could not recall who signed it.
The Department of Elections confirmed additional fraudulent petitions submitted by Bautista, leading to her arrest. She faces a minimum three-year prison sentence, with sentencing pending a presentencing investigation.
The State Attorney’s Office acknowledged the contributions of FDLE, the Department of Elections, Assistant State Attorney Janine Nixon, Certified Legal Intern Sandy Edwards, and the Florida Attorney General’s Office.
