PHOENIX, Ariz. — An Arizona man accused of forging signatures and submitting falsified documents in connection with 2024 election petitions has pleaded guilty to reduced charges under a plea agreement filed in Maricopa County Superior Court.
Austin Cole Smith, 30, was indicted by a state grand jury on June 2, 2025, on 14 counts, including one felony charge of fraudulent schemes and practices, three felony counts of presenting false instruments for filing, and ten misdemeanor counts related to the illegal signing of election petitions. Prosecutors alleged that between April 2023 and April 2024, Smith forged multiple elector signatures and knowingly submitted false verification forms to the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office.
According to the indictment, investigators found that Smith falsely completed circulator verifications on several petitions — identified as petition numbers 24, 26, and 27 — and signed numerous fictitious names, including “Enrique Sandoval,” “Nancy Gray,” “Christine English,” and others, across multiple petition sheets for a 2024 Legislative District 29 race.
Attorney General Kris Mayes’ office prosecuted the case, alleging Smith engaged in “a scheme or artifice to defraud” election officials by submitting forged or falsified petition documents, violations that fall under Arizona’s election integrity and fraud statutes.
Guilty Plea to Reduced Charges
Court records show that Smith has now entered a plea of guilty to two offenses:
• Attempted Fraudulent Schemes and Practices, amended to a Class 6 undesignated felony; and
• Illegal Signing of Election Petitions, a Class 1 misdemeanor corresponding to Count 8 of the indictment.
The plea agreement significantly reduces Smith’s criminal exposure. In exchange for the plea, prosecutors agreed to dismiss the remaining counts — including the three false-instrument felonies and nine additional petition-forgery misdemeanors — as well as any other potential charges stemming from his 2024 candidate filings.
Under the terms of the agreement, Smith will be placed on supervised probation, with the court retaining discretion over the length and conditions. The attempted-fraud conviction will remain undesignated unless and until Smith successfully completes probation and fulfills all financial obligations, including fines and restitution.
As part of the penalties, Smith must pay a $5,000 fine to the Arizona Attorney General’s Anti-Racketeering Fund, along with statutory fees and assessments. He must also submit a DNA sample and comply with all probation requirements, which may include potential jail time at the judge’s discretion.
Five-Year Ban From Seeking Public Office
In addition to criminal penalties, Smith will face a mandatory five-year ban on seeking public office, pursuant to A.R.S. § 16-351(G), which applies to convictions involving petition forgery.
The plea agreement notes that the conviction is officially recognized as “petition forgery” for the purposes of election-eligibility law.
Victim Rights and Case Conditions
Prosecutors emphasized that all victims connected with the original indictment retain their rights to be heard at sentencing, including—if applicable—individuals whose signatures were forged on the petitions. Smith is prohibited from contacting any victims without approval from the court or probation authorities.
The agreement also specifies that if Smith violates the law or fails to appear for sentencing, the plea could be voided and all original charges reinstated.
State’s Ongoing Focus on Election Integrity
Attorney General Mayes has previously signaled that her office would aggressively pursue cases involving fraudulent nomination petitions, a recurring issue in Arizona politics. The indictment against Smith follows renewed statewide efforts to identify petition irregularities and ensure the legitimacy of candidate qualification processes.
Sentencing in Smith’s case will be set by the Maricopa County Superior Court.
