Woman jailed for voter fraud says she was used as an example

by Associated Press

Tue, February 14th 2017 at 2:56 PM

Updated Tue, February 14th 2017 at 2:57 PM

This photo provided by Tarrant County, Texas office shows Rosa Maria Ortega. Ortega, 37, was convicted in Fort Worth this week on two felony counts of illegal voting over allegations that she improperly cast a ballot five times between 2005 and 2014. Her attorney, Clark Birdsall, said Friday, Feb. 10, 2017, that Ortega was a U.S. permanent resident who mistakenly thought she was eligible to vote. He said she voted Republican, including for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, whose office helped prosecute her. (Tarrant County, Texas via AP)

FORT WORTH, Texas — A Mexican national sentenced to eight years in prison for voter fraud in Texas says she was wrongly used by authorities as an example of fraud.

Rosa Maria Ortega, who was brought to Texas as an infant, says she held a green card and always believed she was allowed to vote.

The 37-year-old Ortega told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that she didn't understand the difference between a permanent resident and a citizen.

She likely will be deported once she's released from prison.

The Tarrant County district attorney's office says it previously offered Ortega a plea deal for probation. But her lawyer says it was rejected because it likely would have resulted in her deportation.

Ortega was convicted in Fort Worth last week on two felony counts of illegal voting.

Stay Connected

Like Us

Newsletter Sign up /sign-up

Terms EEO FCC FCC Privacy Policy Cookie PolicyCookie Preferences

Loading ...