AG James Uthmeier touts Smart & Safe petitioner fraud arrest

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the arrest of a paid ballot petition circulator accused of voter fraud and identity theft tied to the Smart & Safe Florida marijuana initiative, escalating the state’s scrutiny of petition-driven constitutional amendments.

Teagen Marie Targhuhanuchi, 41, of Titusville, was arrested on multiple felony charges after investigators said she used personal information collected during petition drives to fraudulently submit voter registration applications without permission.

Authorities allege the misconduct occurred while Targhuhanuchi was working on behalf of Smart & Safe Florida, the political committee backing ballot initiative 25-01, which seeks to legalize recreational marijuana in Florida.

According to investigators, Targhuhanuchi attended multiple public events where she collected signatures for the marijuana amendment. Afterward, officials say, she took identifying information from those petition forms and used it to complete and submit voter registration applications for the same individuals, without their knowledge or consent.

Uthmeier said the case strikes at the heart of election integrity in Florida.

“There is no excuse for a mega marijuana corporation and its affiliates to fraudulently hijack Florida’s Constitution,” Uthmeier said. “This behavior is a direct attack on election integrity, and we will hold anyone who commits or participates in these crimes fully accountable.”

Prosecutors charged Targhuhanuchi with 12 counts of identity theft, 12 counts of submitting fraudulent voter information, and one count of identity theft involving more than 10 individuals, a more serious felony under state law. If convicted, she could face significant prison time.

The investigation was conducted by the Office of Election Crimes & Security and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, following a referral from the Charlotte County Supervisor of Elections. Election officials flagged irregularities after receiving voter registration forms that appeared to be submitted without voter authorization.

The case will be prosecuted by the Office of Statewide Prosecution in the 20th Judicial Circuit.

The arrest comes as Florida officials intensify oversight of citizen-led constitutional amendments, particularly those involving paid petition circulators. State leaders have repeatedly argued that the initiative process is vulnerable to abuse when large volumes of personal information are collected at public events.

While the charges focus on alleged criminal actions by an individual circulator, the case is likely to fuel broader political debate over ballot initiatives, marijuana legalization, and whether Florida’s Constitution should continue to be amended through petition campaigns.

For now, state officials say the case sends a clear message. Petition work does not excuse criminal conduct, and voter information, once collected, must be protected. Any misuse, prosecutors warn, will be treated as a serious crime against both voters and the electoral system.