Florida Woman Found Guilty in Casino Scam Involving Falsified Signatures at Las Vegas Strip Venue
Florida Woman Convicted for 2021 Casino Petition Fraud
Maria Guadalupe Bautista, a former petition circulator, was convicted in 2025 for a fraudulent scheme involving forged signatures on a constitutional amendment petition related to limited authorization of casino gaming in Florida.
The fraudulent activity came to light in November 2021 when the Marion County Supervisor of Elections, Wesley Wilcox's office, detected suspicious petition signatures and alerted authorities. Bautista was arrested in August 2023.
The campaign in question was led by a political action committee called "Florida Voters in Charge" (FVC). The initiative sought to get an initiative on the 2022 ballot asking voters to allow North Florida card rooms to become casinos. If successful, this could have enabled gaming companies like Las Vegas Sands Corp (LVS) to purchase a parimutuel card room in the Jacksonville area and convert it into a Las Vegas-style casino.
However, the effort was hampered by an unprecedented number of invalid submissions that included falsified petition signatures. A subsequent investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement found that Bautista turned in 191 of 767 suspected fraudulent petitions. Some of these falsified signatures included the names of people who had died, and even an elected official.
Bautista was found guilty on 13 felony counts of fraudulent use of personal identification information. She will receive at least three years in prison when sentenced later this year, facing up to 210 years in prison due to the severity and number of felonies.
The Seminole Tribe of Florida opposed the initiative, holding exclusivity in casino gaming in the state. They counterattacked the FVC campaign with substantial funds. The FVC campaign was also accused of using underhanded tactics, including coordinated harassment and intimidation of signature gatherers.
The conviction of Bautista serves as a deterrent by reaffirming integrity in Florida’s election and petition processes. The casino gaming initiative did not appear on the 2022 ballot partly due to this investigation and fraud exposure.
Reports confirm that Bautista's sentencing is pending, and the case has worked as a reminder of the commitment to accountability and upholding democratic trust. The Ocala-News reported on the conviction of Maria Guadalupe Bautista.
Timeline - November 2021: Marion County Supervisor of Elections detected suspicious petition signatures and alerted authorities. - August 2023: Bautista was arrested. - July 30, 2025: She was convicted by a jury on 13 counts. - August 2025: Reports confirm her conviction and sentencing pending, facing up to 210 years in prison due to the severity and number of felonies.
Key Players - Maria Guadalupe Bautista: former paid petition circulator, main defendant convicted of fraud. - Marion County Supervisor of Elections (Wesley Wilcox's office): raised the fraud complaint. - Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office: prosecuted Bautista. - Las Vegas Sands Corp: financially backed the campaign via Florida Voters in Charge PAC. - Seminole Tribe of Florida: opposed the initiative, holding exclusivity in casino gaming in the state.
Consequences - Bautista faces up to 210 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum of three years. - The case worked as a deterrent by reaffirming integrity in Florida’s election and petition processes, with statements from officials emphasizing commitment to accountability and upholding democratic trust. - The casino gaming initiative did not appear on the 2022 ballot partly due to this investigation and fraud exposure.
- Maria Guadalupe Bautista, a former petition circulator, was convicted in 2025 by a jury on 13 counts for her role in a fraudulent scheme related to Florida casino petition fraud.
- The political action committee called "Florida Voters in Charge" (FVC) led a campaign in Florida that involved a constitutional amendment petition for limited authorization of casino gaming.
- Bautista's fraudulent activity, including forging signatures on the petition, was detected by the Marion County Supervisor of Elections in November 2021.
- If successful, this casino gaming initiative could have enabled gaming companies like Las Vegas Sands Corp (LVS) to purchase a parimutuel card room in Florida and convert it into a Las Vegas-style casino, but it did not appear on the 2022 ballot partly due to this investigation and fraud exposure.
- The Seminole Tribe of Florida opposed the casino gaming initiative, holding exclusivity in casino gaming in the state and providing a counterattack to the FVC campaign.
