Michigan – A second defendant has now been sentenced in connection with a election fraud case tied to Michigan’s 2022 gubernatorial primary, closing another chapter in a scheme that unraveled under scrutiny.
Willie Reed, a resident of Pompano Beach, Florida, received a prison sentence ranging from two to twenty years after a Macomb County jury found him guilty on multiple felony charges. The ruling came from Judge James Maceroni in the 16th Circuit Court. Alongside the prison term, Reed was ordered to repay $333,817 to those impacted by the operation.
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The case centers on a coordinated effort to supply nomination signatures for several candidates seeking a place on the August 2022 primary ballot. Campaigns representing James Craig, Perry Johnson, Michael Markey, and Ryan Kelley had entered into agreements—either directly or through consultants—with companies controlled by Reed and his associate, Shawn Wilmoth of Warren.
What those campaigns expected were legitimate signatures gathered in compliance with election rules. Instead, investigators later determined that while the campaigns collectively paid nearly $350,000, a large portion of the submitted signatures had been fabricated. The scale of the falsification reached into the tens of thousands, casting doubt on entire petition submissions and disrupting the candidates’ ability to qualify for the ballot.
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Authorities moved quickly once irregularities surfaced. The Michigan Bureau of Elections identified the fraudulent entries, prompting the Department of State to escalate the matter for a full investigation in June 2022. Formal charges against Reed and Wilmoth followed in September of the next year.
Reed’s convictions span a wide range of offenses, including conducting a criminal enterprise, multiple counts of false pretenses involving substantial sums, election law forgery, misuse of computers to facilitate crimes, and larceny by conversion. His co-defendant, Wilmoth, had already been sentenced earlier in the month to a term of four to twenty years.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel described the case as a serious breach of public trust, noting that such actions distort the democratic process and limit voter choice.
“I hope this outcome serves as a deterrent to others who attempt to subvert our system. My department remains committed to defending the integrity of our elections and is pleased that Mr. Wilmoth and Mr. Reed will be held fully accountable for their fraudulent scheme,” AG Nessel said.
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With both men now sentenced, officials say the case sends a clear signal about the consequences of manipulating the systems meant to uphold fair elections.