MORE CHARGED FAKING ND PETITION SIGNATURES - Valley News Live - KVLY/KXJB - Fargo/Grand Forks

The number has grown, 15 people are now charged by the Cass County States Attorney's office with forging names on petitions. Of those 15, ten are current NDSU football players and three are former players.

The fake signatures forced the disqualification of two initiatives from the November general election ballot.

The initiatives sought to set up a conservation fund financed by oil taxes and to legalize marijuana use for pain relief.

A petition collector who had charges dropped against him said he wasn't required to collect a certain amount of signatures. But if you didn't reach an expected quota, you would likely stand out.

"If you get 20 out of the 65 on a day, you would be clearly noticed and if you weren't doing well naturally you may or may not have that motivation to cheat." Says Lane O'Brien who collected and entered data collected throughout the state of North Dakota.

According to court documents, Sam Ojuri, a Bison standout said he worried about being let go if he didn't reach his 60 signatures a day.

Another who was charged, Marcus Williams, told investigators he was given financial incentives to get more signatures. Williams estimated that about half of his names were forged. All 15 charged face class A misdemeanors which could carry the maximum sentence of one year in jail and a two thousand dollar fine.

Their first court appearance will be October 2nd at the Cass County District Court.