Great Lakes Wire

Former Saginaw City Council candidate Eric Eggleston and current council member Monique Lamar-Silvia were convicted of multiple felonies related to election law forgery. The Michigan Attorney General, Dana Nessel, announced the convictions. Both individuals were found guilty by a Saginaw County jury for forging signatures on a nominating petition. This petition was filed with the Saginaw City Clerk's Office in an attempt to place Eggleston on the 2024 November General Election ballot as a candidate for City Council.

Eggleston faced several charges, including one count of conspiracy to do a legal act in an illegal manner, one count of election law forgery, and one count of signing a nominating petition as a circulator when he was not the circulator.

Lamar-Silvia was convicted of conspiracy to do a legal act in an illegal manner, election law forgery, signing a nominating petition with multiple names, and signing a nominating petition with a name other than her own.

"Forging signatures on nominating petitions undermines our democratic process," said Nessel. "I am pleased the jury recognized the seriousness of these offenses. These convictions serve as a strong reminder that no one is above the law, and my office remains committed to upholding our election laws to protect the will of voters."

On July 23, 2024, Lamar-Silvia fraudulently signed voter names from Saginaw on forms intended to secure Eggleston's candidacy. Eggleston falsely certified himself as the circulator and submitted these forms before the filing deadline. His placement on the ballot was denied.

The Michigan Department of State referred this case to the Attorney General following an investigation into alleged election fraud reported by the Saginaw City Clerk. Charges against Eggleston and Lamar-Silvia were filed by the Department of Attorney General in January.

Sentencing for both individuals is scheduled before Judge Andre Borrello at the 10th Circuit Court in Saginaw County on August 20.