The guilty pleas Monday in the Court of Common Pleas in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, of two conservative operatives in a robocalling scheme to disrupt the 2020 election in favor of then-President Donald Trump were the culmination of an October 2020 grand jury indictment accusing them each of eight counts of telecommunications fraud, said court papers. Jacob Wohl, 24, of Irvine, California, and Jack Burkman, 56, of Arlington, Virginia, face sentencing in late November on one count each of telecommunications fraud under their plea deals. The defendants were known for “peddling conspiracy theories,” including false sexual assault allegations against Pete Buttigieg, now transportation secretary; Anthony Fauci, director-National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; and former special counsel Robert Mueller, said state prosecutors in a September 2021 response to the defendants’ motion to dismiss (docket CR 20 654013-B). The pair sent out robocalls “specifically targeting minority voters” in heavily Democratic areas in Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, New York and Philadelphia, said prosecutors. “They targeted these areas to try to intimidate, suppress, and place fear on voters by falsely claiming on the robocall that law enforcement would execute outstanding warrants,” or that creditors would collect on outstanding debts, they said. They also told call recipients that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “would use voter information from mail in voting to ensure mandatory vaccinations,” they said. “The defendants used computers and computer systems throughout the conspiracy and as a vehicle to deliver their false and intimidating message to minority voters.” Voter intimidation “won’t be tolerated in Ohio,” said Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost (R) in a statement Monday. His office's Robocall Enforcement Unit "assisted in the investigation" and was able to partner with prosecutors "to shut down these two people," he said.

The plaintiffs and defendants in the false advertising complaint against Ring agreed in a joint stipulation Thursday to extend by a month to Nov. 21 the deadline for the defendants to respond to the class action. The packaging, ads and marketing materials associated with Ring’s $399 Jobsite Security 5-Piece Starter Kit falsely represent to consumers that the kit, when used in conjunction with an internet connection and Ring’s Pro Subscription with “24/7 professional monitoring” will automatically call authorities when their motion sensors have been detected, alleged the Sept. 23 complaint (docket 2:22-cv-06909) in U.S. District Court for Central California in Los Angeles. The complaint also names Home Depot and Ring parent Amazon as defendants. “The Jobsite Security Kit and Pro Subscription are not capable of this advertised functionality,” it said. “Users must call authorities themselves” or instruct Ring to do so when prompted, said the complaint. Consumers were “effectively sold” a 911 speed dial to press when their motion sensors have been triggered, it said. “Ring advertises and misrepresents on its website that its Pro Subscription provides functionality that it knows it does not actually provide,” the complaint said. The suit alleges violation of California’s Consumers Legal Remedies Act, plus false advertising and unfair competition laws. Ring, Amazon and Home Depot didn’t comment Friday.