Ocala Woman Faces 210 Years After Conviction in Casino Petition Fraud Case
OCALA, FL — A Marion County jury has convicted Maria Guadalupe Bautista, 26, of 13 felony counts of fraudulent use of personal identification in a petition fraud case tied to a failed 2022 casino gaming ballot initiative.
Bautista, a former paid petition circulator and registered Democrat from Gainesville, was found guilty on 13 of 16 counts filed by the Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office. Each count carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, bringing her total possible sentence to 210 years if given the maximum on all charges.
The investigation began in November 2021, when Marion County election officials alerted the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to suspicious petition activity. Of 767 flagged forms, 191 were submitted by Bautista. Investigators determined 16 contained forged signatures — including two from deceased individuals.
The forged petitions were intended to boost support for a constitutional amendment that would have expanded casino gaming options through licensed cardroom operators. The proposal ultimately failed to reach the 2022 ballot.
Bautista was arrested on August 29, 2023, and initially held in Alachua County Jail on an $80,000 bond before being transferred to Marion County. She pleaded not guilty in September and waived her right to a speedy trial in December.
Judge Peter Brigham presided over the case. Prosecutor Janine Nixon and defense attorney Everett Williams represented the state and Bautista, respectively. Bautista was acquitted on three of the original sixteen charges.
Her sentencing date has not yet been announced.
