PENSACOLA, Fla. — A Miami woman faces dozens of felony charges after state investigators uncovered widespread petition fraud tied to Florida’s marijuana legalization amendment effort.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) announced that Jessica Sonia Humphreys, 24, of Miami, has been charged with 72 counts of petition fraud and perjury, all third-degree felonies. The case spans Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in North Florida and underscores the risks of petition fraud in Florida’s election system.
Claims of Fraudulent Petitions Spark Investigation
According to FDLE, the investigation began in January 2023 after the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections reported suspicious petitions linked to the proposed constitutional amendment on marijuana use.
Agents believe they have discovered 38 fraudulent petitions submitted by Humphreys, who was working as a paid petition gatherer for Smart and Safe Florida, the group sponsoring the marijuana amendment.
Investigators then reached out to the Santa Rosa County Supervisor of Elections, who said they saw additional irregularities. That review claims to reveal 34 more petitions containing fictitious names, also submitted by Humphreys.
Arrests and Warrants Across Counties
FDLE obtained arrest warrants in November 2023 for both counties. On January 29, 2024, Humphreys was arrested by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office on 34 counts of petition fraud and 34 counts of perjury. She was released on bail but later failed to appear at her scheduled court hearing.
Months later, on August 15, 2025, Humphreys was stopped by Coral Springs Police in Broward County and taken into custody on the Escambia County charges: 38 counts of petition fraud and 38 counts of perjury.
She was booked into the Broward County Jail, then extradited to the Escambia County Jail on August 26, 2025. Humphreys also faces additional penalties for failing to appear in court in Santa Rosa County.
State Prosecution Underway
The case is being prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney, First Judicial Circuit, which oversees Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. FDLE said the investigation remains active and did not rule out further developments.
Broader Context: Florida’s Marijuana Amendment
The alleged fraudulent petitions were tied to the Smart and Safe Florida campaign, which successfully gathered enough verified signatures to place a marijuana legalization measure on the 2024 ballot. Petition gatherers are often paid to collect voter signatures, but state law requires accuracy and prohibits falsification.
