Attorney General James Uthmeier Announces Arrest in Constitutional Amendment Petition Fraud Investigation

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General James Uthmeier today announced the arrest of Alexandria Mary Beatrice Tatem for Perjury by False Written Declaration, a third-degree felony under Florida law. The arrest follows a joint investigation led by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's Office of Executive Investigations and the Elections Crime Unit.

"We will not tolerate fraud, let alone fraud that undermines the integrity of Florida's nation-leading election system or uses the names of deceased voters to change our state’s constitution," said Attorney General James Uthmeier. "This arrest shows our commitment to upholding the law and protecting the sanctity of Florida’s elections. My office will continue to lead the charge against any form of voter fraud in Florida."

According to the investigation, Tatem, a registered Paid Petition Circulator (PPC), submitted a petition in support of a constitutional amendment initiative titled Adult Personal Use of Marijuana (Amendment 25-01), sponsored by Smart & Safe Florida. The petition falsely claimed to have been signed by Amy Akins, a Florida voter who passed away on January 10, 2024—more than a year before the date the petition was allegedly signed. The petition was submitted to the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections.

Per State law, PPCs must swear under penalty of perjury that each petition they submit was signed in their presence by the named voter. Tatem signed the affidavit on the petition affirming it was completed in her presence. During a sworn interview conducted by FDLE on July 1, 2025, in Killeen, Texas, Tatem confirmed that she signed the affidavit and submitted the petition, even after being shown that the voter listed had died more than a year prior.

The investigation revealed that Tatem had been registered as a PPC with the Florida Department of State's Division of Elections since 2019. Tatem collected and submitted petitions in the Tampa Bay and Sarasota regions. Election officials identified the forged petition due to the voter's death before the date of the alleged signature.

The Office of Statewide Prosecution is charging Tatem with one count of Perjury by False Written Declaration, a third-degree felony, punishable by up to five years in prison.

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