ORLANDO –The mayor of Eatonville and two others face a host of charges in connection with an election fraud investigation.
News of the indictment came as the grand jury looking into the case concluded its service Monday.
Mayor Anthony Grant is accused of offering bribes in exchange for absentee votes — allegations the Florida Department of Law Enforcement has investigated.
“These three people conspired together to essentially present votes as if they were legitimate,” said State Attorney Jeff Ashton. “That is the allegation in a number of the counts.”
Grant turned himself into authorities Monday night and is in the custody of the Orange County Jail. The two others named in the indictment, James Randolph and Mia Nowells, are also in custody.
Officials said Randolph and Nowells worked for or with Grant during the election.
“This indictment is the culmination of a one-year investigation,” Ashton said.
In a news conference, Ashton said Grant, along with his two alleged co-conspirators, Nowells and Randolph, is accused of either telling people how to vote or intimidating people to influence how they voted on their absentee ballots in last year’s election.
