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Orange County political activist Nativo Lopez pleads guilty to voter fraud
File photo: Nativo Lopez at a rally for improved worker benefits at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach on April 27, 2006 in Los Angeles.
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Orange County political activist Nativo Lopez pleads guilty to voter fraud
Orange County political activist Nativo Lopez pleads guilty to voter fraud
A well-known Orange County political activist has pleaded guilty to voter registration fraud. He made his plea Wednesday in Los Angeles.
The California Secretary of State’s Election Fraud Investigation Unit announced two years ago that it was going after Santa Ana political activist Nativo Lopez. Investigators say Lopez leased office space in Boyle Heights in Los Angeles County and registered to vote with that address, even though he lives in Santa Ana in Orange County.
Authorities charged Lopez with several counts of voter registration fraud. After several delays, the case was finally due to go to trial when Lopez decided to plead guilty to one felony count of voter registration fraud.
Prosecutors dropped the other charges. A Los Angeles Superior Court judge sentenced the 59-year-old Lopez to 400 hours of community service and three years probation.
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