Council Bluffs, IOWA — A DCI investigation into the 2010 and 2011 general and city elections in Pottawattamie County has resulted in three individuals being charged with Election Misconduct (vote fraud), a Class D Felony. Those charged are 52 year old Albert Harte-Maxwell of Council Bluffs, Iowa; 49 year old Linda Harte-Maxwell of Council Bluffs, Iowa; and 40 year old Maria Ayon-Fernandez of Council Bluffs, Iowa.
According to criminal complaints filed, Albert Harte-Maxwell, Linda Harte-Maxwell, and Maria Ayon-Fernandez are all non United States citizens who registered to vote in Pottawattamie County. Albert Harte-Maxwell voted in the 2010 general election and 2011 city election, Linda Harte-Maxwell voted in the 2011 city election and Maria Ayon-Fernandez voted in the 2010 general election.
Albert Harte-Maxwell, Linda Harte-Maxwell, and Maria Ayon-Fernandez turned themselves in to law enforcement today. All three individuals were booked into the Pottawattamie County Jail and released on their own recognizance.
This investigation was conducted through the cooperative efforts of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Pottawattamie County Attorney’s Office.