{"id":54441,"date":"2023-10-18T19:33:51","date_gmt":"2023-10-19T02:33:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=54441"},"modified":"2023-10-18T19:33:51","modified_gmt":"2023-10-19T02:33:51","slug":"defendant-who-attempted-to-trick-voters-sentenced-to-seven-months-in-prison-fined-15000","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=54441","title":{"rendered":"Defendant Who Attempted to Trick Voters Sentenced to Seven months in Prison, Fined $15,000"},"content":{"rendered":"
WASHINGTON D.C.<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
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A social media influencer was sentenced Wednesday to seven months in prison and fined $15,000 for his role in a conspiracy to interfere with potential voters\u2019 right to vote in the 2016 presidential election.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to court documents, by 2016, Douglass Mackey, aka Ricky Vaughn, had established an audience on Twitter with approximately 58,000 followers. <\/span><\/p>\n

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<\/span> Douglass Mackey, aka Ricky Vaughn<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A February 2016 analysis by the MIT Media Lab ranked Mackey as one of the most significant influencers of the then-upcoming presidential election. <\/span><\/p>\n

Between September 2016 and November 2016, officials stated that Mackey conspired with other influential Twitter users and with members of private online groups to use social media platforms, including Twitter, to disseminate fraudulent messages.<\/span><\/p>\n

These messages encouraged supporters of presidential candidate Hillary Clinton to \u201cvote\u201d via text message or social media, which was legally invalid.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"For example, on November 1, 2016, when Mackey was sending tweets suggesting the importance of limiting \u201cblack turnout,\u201d Mackey tweeted an image depicting an African American woman standing in front of an \u201cAfrican Americans for Hillary\u201d sign. <\/span><\/p>\n

The ad stated: \u201cAvoid the Line. Vote from Home,\u201d \u201cText \u2018Hillary\u2019 to 59925,\u201d and \u201cVote for Hillary and be a part of history.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

The fine print at the bottom of the deceptive image stated: \u201cMust be 18 or older to vote. One vote per person. Must be a legal citizen of the United States. <\/span><\/p>\n

Voting by text is not available in Guam, Puerto Rico, Alaska or Hawaii. <\/span><\/p>\n

Paid for by Hillary For President 2016.\u201d The tweet included the typed hashtag \u201c#ImWithHer,\u201d a slogan frequently used by then-presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On or about and before Election Day 2016, at least 4,900 unique telephone numbers texted \u201cHillary\u201d or some derivative to the 59925 text number, which had been used in multiple deceptive campaign images that Mackey and his co-conspirators tweeted.<\/span><\/p>\n

Several hours after tweeting the first image, Mackey tweeted an image depicting a woman seated in a conference room typing a message on her cell phone. <\/span><\/p>\n

This deceptive image was written in Spanish and mimicked the Clinton campaign’s font in authentic ads. <\/span><\/p>\n

The image also included a copy of the Clinton campaign\u2019s logo and the \u201cImWithHer\u201d hashtag.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A federal jury in Brooklyn previously convicted Mackey at trial for conspiracy against rights.<\/span><\/p>\n

The FBI investigated the case.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n