A self-proclaimed “election integrity crusader,” Austin Cole Smith, has been sentenced after pleading guilty to fraud.
Smith, age 30 of Buckeye, was sentenced today after entering two guilty pleas in Maricopa County Superior Court. Smith was sentenced to 2 years of supervised probation, and he is ineligible to run for public office for 5 years, and must pay $5,000 fine with 10% surcharge.
Smith previously entered a guilty plea to attempted fraudulent schemes and practices, a class 6 undesignated offense, and illegal signing of election petitions, a class 1 misdemeanor. As a part of his guilty plea, Smith admitted signing the name of a deceased woman on one of his candidate nomination petitions in March of 2024.
Smith also admitted that he attempted to deceive the Secretary of State’s Office by knowingly filing petitions containing forged signatures of purported supporters of his nomination for the Republican primary for State Representative from LD 29.
Ineligible to run for public office for 5 years? Um, how about _ever_?