AG Paxton’s Office To Prosecute Nine Counts Of Voter Fraud From Nueces County

“Nothing is more vital to our democracy than the integrity of our voting process, and my office will do everything within its abilities to solidify trust in every election in the state of Texas…”

AUSTIN – Attorney General Ken Paxton announced this week that his office will prosecute three Robstown residents who were recently indicted by a San Patricio County grand jury for nine counts of voter fraud during the 2016 election cycle in Nueces County.

The grand jury indictments are for violations of the Texas Election Code and include charges against the defendants for ballot theft, mail-in ballot fraud, vote harvesting, unlawfully divulging a vote and illegal voting.

“Nothing is more vital to our democracy than the integrity of our voting process, and my office will do everything within its abilities to solidify trust in every election in the state of Texas,” Attorney General Paxton said. “We’re grateful to Nueces County Clerk Kara Sands for uncovering these election fraud cases. I’m hopeful these prosecutions will send a message that deters voter fraud in the future.”

Cynthia Kay Gonzalez was indicted on four counts of election fraud stemming from the May 2016 Nueces County Democratic primary runoff election. The charges against her include illegal voting, a second-degree felony punishable by a prison term of two to 20 years, if convicted.

The grand jury also charged Rosita Torres Flores with two counts of voter fraud. She’s accused of obtaining an elderly victim’s mail-in ballot and using it to vote without the voter’s direction during the 2016 general election.

Finally, the grand jury charged Robert Gonzalez with three counts of unlawfully divulging a vote, a third-degree felony. Gonzalez was on the ballot as a candidate for the 2016 Robstown Municipal Utility Board runoff election. He was charged with observing the secret ballot of another voter in a polling place and unlawfully divulging the person’s vote.

Last month, Attorney General Paxton announced a significant voter fraud initiative and addressed key problems and policy areas related to election law. He also offered assistance to Starr County District Attorney Omar Escobar, where seven people have been arrested so far this year in a crackdown against voter fraud.

View the indictment against Cynthia Kay Gonzalez here: http://bit.ly/2FizZtg

View the indictment against Rosita Torres Flores here: http://bit.ly/2FiE40r

View the indictment against Robert Gonzales here: http://bit.ly/2Fk3tTt