EXCLUSIVE: Multiple Individuals Charged With Election Fraud in “Secret Indictment” in Rhode Island

EXCLUSIVE: Multiple Individuals Charged With Election Fraud in “Secret Indictment” in Rhode Island

 

A Rhode Island grand jury returned a secret indictment against four individuals, charging them with more than 40 counts related to election fraud.

The grand jury and the charges are only now being unveiled after an extensive GoLocal investigation.

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Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha never announced the indictments. 

His office did respond to questions on Friday relating to the charges, but did not answer why the indictments and arrests were never publicly disclosed.

One of those charged tells GoLocal that the issues are far more widespread.

The core of the crimes is tied to a political movement — No Labels — that was seeking enough signatures to be registered as a political party in Rhode Island to run a presidential candidate in the 2024 election. In Rhode Island, the No Labels effort was chaired by Gary Sasse, the former director of Administration under Governor Donald Carcieri and an occasional columnist for GoLocal and other publications.

As part of that effort, No Labels hired Advanced Micro Targeting — a Texas-based firm that specializes in collecting signatures for political campaigns.

Advanced Micro Targeting describes itself as  “a direct democracy firm that sells big ideas. Big ideas like ending government corruption, giving voters the right to decide what's best for them, and electing leaders who actually listen to the voters.” It has been involved with similar political activities in multiple other states. 

In January 2026, the Missouri Attorney General began a separate investigation into Advanced Micro Targeting. GoLocal spoke at length with both the President and Founder, Bill Rogers, and the COO, Amanda Fitzgerald, about the situation in Rhode Island and the Missouri investigation. The executives in the interview said the company does extensive background checks on all of its workers, but questions are emerging about those claims.

 

On Sunday, GoLocal will publish a significant second part to this investigation.

 

Problems Began - Dead People Signing Election Petitions

The problems began for the employees of Advanced Micro Targeting in Rhode Island when election officials in Jamestown and Cranston detected suspicious activity, including forged election papers signed by dead people.

Court documents tied to the indictments show the issues were far more widespread and were detected in multiple other communities.

The matters were turned over to the board of election, and unbeknownst to most anyone, it was then referred to the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office.  

Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore told GoLocal in a phone interview on Friday night that he was aware of questions about the issues in Cranston and Jamestown, but "I never heard anything else about it."

GoLocal has uncovered, through court documents and dozens of interviews, that four people were charged with multiple crimes, and two have been sentenced.

Nick Lima, who is the election official in Cranston, told GoLocal in a phone interview, "I guess [No Labels] hired this outside company, and the company didn't use the most reputable people, I guess, that they flew in here from Texas and wherever."

"And I don't know if they're being paid by the signature or what kind of system was set up. But, somebody just used an old phone book or what? And I don't know if they're being paid by the signature or what kind of system was set up," added Lima, who said he testified before the grand jury but never heard anything more about the cases.

 

Four Individuals Charged

Two individuals, Drake Dishman of Las Vegas and Justina Bradshaw of Rosenberg, Texas, both pleaded to multiple charges in recent months. The indictments were in October of 2024.

Bradshaw spent five months at the Rhode Island Adult Correctional facility for women, as she could not make a $300 bail.

 

Dishman Talks About the Company

Dishman conducted a lengthy phone call with GoLocal on Friday.

He said he and the other workers did what the company told them to do. 

“It’s not good, the company did nothing for me…I don't think any of this is right. They begged me to plead guilty, or they said I'd spend like 10 years in prison,” said Dishman.

“I wanted to sit the whole thing out and have them prove it. I mean, I almost wanted to do that. I almost wanted to just sit and be extradited from Las Vegas. Be like. I didn't do this," said Dishman.

For Dishman, Rhode Island was just one of the places he worked for Advanced Micro Targeting.

“Yeah, I worked at a lot of places — Rhode. Island. Tennessee. Nebraska. Missouri. In Rhode. Island.  I did 71 days or so. And then it seemed like less than two months in Nebraska. And Tennessee was a few more days. And. You know. Here and there,” Dishman said.

Dishman said he learned of the Rhode Island indictment when he went to the Las Vegas Police station to take fingerprints for a $ 12-an-hour job. He was arrested at the station.

About the situation, Dishman said, “I have no faith left in any, pretty much any company. Yeah, I'm sorry."

“I don't know if I should talk to people because I did the same thing in Nebraska. I did the same thing in Missouri. I did the same things in Nevada. You know, and how do I know those states aren't going to come after me?” said Dishman.

According to Neronha's office, "Consideration was given to Dishman, and his more favorable disposition ultimately resulted from his lack of criminal history, the mitigation package provided by counsel, and the fact that he was not charged with any Identity Fraud or Counterfeiting charges." Dishman was also represented by Boston-based attorney Callan Stein of the national law firm Troutman.

Dishman was charged with:

 

 

Bradshaw Sat in Prison for Months

Bradshaw, a 42-year-old woman, came to Rhode Island to work for Advanced Micro Targeting. After being indicted by the grand jury, she was arrested in Texas and returned to Rhode Island.  She remained in prison for months before pleading guilty to multiple charges.

One person with direct knowledge said she simply did not have enough money for bail. She worked in the kitchen at the prison and was paid $2 a day, saving that money for when she was released so she could travel back to her family in Rosenberg, TX.

JR Ventura, the spokesperson for the Rhode Island Department of Corrections, confirmed that Bradshaw spent five months at the women's facility.

Nehrona’s office said in an email to Golocal:

This Defendant was extradited from Texas, and her warrant was canceled on December 4, 2025.  Bail was set, but it was never posted during the time the case was pending.  Defendant Bradshaw had a lengthy criminal history (out of state) and was charged with Identity Fraud and Forgery in addition to various Violations as to Nomination Papers or Withdrawals and Giving False Documents to Agent, Employee, or Public Official charges.  At least one of her submitted signature sheets had the name, address, and signature (appearing to be written in her handwriting) of a voter who had been deceased for years.

 

 

On June 30, Bradshaw pleaded and was sentenced as follows:

•Identify Fraud: 3-year full sentence, 5 months to serve (credit for time served)

•Forgery and Counterfeiting: 5-year full sentence, 5 months to serve (credit for time served)

•Violations as to Nomination Papers or Withdrawals: 5-year full sentence, 5 months to serve (credit for time served)

•Giving False Document to Agent, Employee, or Public Official: 1 year suspended with probation

 

 

Outstanding Warrants on Two Others Who Were Charged With Even More Violations

Robert Gatling, who also worked on the No Labels campaign in Rhode Island, has an outstanding warrant, and he is facing 16 charges, including 13 felonies. His last known address was in Bellaire, Texas.

 

The fourth member charged is Jason Jones, who is facing 12 charges for his role in the election fraud scheme.

Jones' last known address was in Athens, Georgia.

 

According to Neronha's office:

There are two Defendants still out on warrants: Robert Gatling and Jason Jones. Those warrants have been entered into NCIC as they appear to travel and reside around the country. Both have criminal records from other states.  Once they are located, their prosecutions will commence.

 

Coming Sunday: 

The company, Advanced Micro Targeting, that hired the fraudulent election workers, claims it conducts extensive background checks and training. GoLocal looks at the claims and the reality. 

This story is just beginning.