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Nine people indicted in Texas vote harvesting case


Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has announced the indictment of nine individuals, including several elected officials and political operatives, as part of a sweeping investigation into an alleged illegal vote harvesting scheme centered in Frio County.

Among those indicted is Manuel Medina, chief of staff to State Rep. Elizabeth Campos (D–San Antonio). Medina, a former Bexar County Democratic Party chair and one-time San Antonio mayoral candidate, faces two counts of vote harvesting, a felony offense in Texas.

The indictments stem from a multi-year election integrity investigation launched by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) after it received a referral in 2022 from District Attorney Audrey Louis of the 81st Judicial District. The referral raised serious concerns about coordinated election fraud and ballot harvesting practices during that year’s elections.

“Let me be crystal clear: the integrity of our elections is the bedrock of our democratic process, and any elected official trying to cheat the system will have to answer for it,” said Attorney General Paxton. “Under my watch, attempts to rig elections and silence the will of the voters will be met with the full force of the law. I will continue to fight to ensure Texas has free and fair elections and work with Frio County District Attorney Audrey Louis to ensure justice is served in this case.” 

Key Individuals Indicted

The grand jury returned true bills of indictment for the following individuals:

Manuel Medina – Chief of Staff to State Rep. Elizabeth Campos: 2 counts of vote harvesting

Cecilia Castellano – Former candidate for Texas House District 80: 2 counts

MaryAnn Obregon – Former Mayor of Dilley: 2 counts

Inelda Rodriguez – Former Dilley City Council Member: 3 counts

Raul Carrizales – Frio County Commissioner (Pct. 3): 1 count

Davina Trevino – Former Pearsall City Council candidate: 1 count

Mari Benavides – Pearsall ISD Board Trustee: 1 count

Susie Carrizales – Civilian: 1 count

Rachel Leal – Civilian: 1 count

Several of those indicted have turned themselves in to authorities and have been processed accordingly. The OAG noted that further arrests and charges could follow as the investigation remains ongoing.

Political Reverberations

The scope of the alleged scheme and the involvement of current and former public officials has raised eyebrows across the political spectrum. Particularly notable is the indictment of Cecilia Castellano, a name mentioned as a potential contender for House District 80 in the upcoming 2026 election cycle. Her future political aspirations may now be in jeopardy.

The case also brings scrutiny to local governance in Frio County, with elected officials from various levels — city, county, and school board — accused of participating in illegal ballot operations.

What is Vote Harvesting?

Under Texas law, vote harvesting refers to the illegal collection and handling of ballots, often involving coercion or fraud, to influence election outcomes. While assisting voters in limited ways is allowed under certain conditions, organized ballot collection efforts by unauthorized individuals or for manipulative purposes are strictly prohibited.

The law was strengthened in recent legislative sessions as part of broader Republican-led efforts to shore up election security across the state.

Ongoing Investigation

The Election Integrity Unit of the OAG, working closely with DA Audrey Louis, continues to investigate the scope of the alleged conspiracy. Search warrants were executed in Frio, Atascosa, and Bexar Counties in August 2024 as part of the probe.

On May 1, 2025, the first round of indictments targeted six individuals — four of whom were public officials — for similar vote-related crimes. The most recent indictments, handed down on June 30 by a Frio County grand jury, bring the total number of individuals charged in this investigation to fifteen.

Looking Ahead

The developments in Frio County may heighten attention to election monitoring and raise further political tensions in an already polarized environment. The legal process for the indicted individuals will now proceed through the judicial system, with preliminary hearings expected in the coming weeks.