Federal prosecutors announced charges involving 48 foreign nationals accused of illegally voting, submitting fraudulent voter registrations or falsely claiming U.S. citizenship in cases spanning multiple elections, including the 2020, 2022 and 2024 federal contests.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The Justice Department announced federal charges Monday against 48 noncitizens in Pennsylvania, California, Florida, New York and Nevada, alleging illegal voting, fraudulent voter registration and false claims of U.S. citizenship in cases involving several election cycles.
The Oct. 26 announcement from the Justice Department identified defendants accused of participating unlawfully in federal elections or providing inaccurate citizenship information while registering to vote or applying for naturalization. The alleged violations extend from voter-registration activity dating back to 2002 through elections held as recently as 2026.
Most defendants identified by federal prosecutors are lawful permanent residents, meaning they are legally authorized to live in the United States but are not eligible to vote in federal elections. One defendant in Pennsylvania was identified as an immigrant living in the country illegally.
The cases include misdemeanor allegations of voting by a noncitizen and more serious felony charges involving false statements in citizenship applications and attempts to obtain naturalization unlawfully.
California accounted for the largest share of defendants, with 28 people charged across four federal judicial districts. Pennsylvania accounted for nine, followed by six in Florida, four in New York and one in Nevada.
In the Central District of California, prosecutors charged 13 defendants with offenses that include making false statements during the naturalization process.
Among them is Omar Alexander Muñoz, 72, a Belizean national and lawful permanent resident. Prosecutors allege that Muñoz registered to vote in September 2019 after falsely claiming U.S. citizenship, then participated in elections in 2020, twice in 2022 and again in 2024.
Muñoz also allegedly denied previously claiming American citizenship when completing his naturalization application, according to the department.
Another defendant, Cambodian national Butleng Taing, 43, allegedly registered to vote in July 2021, participated in the 2022 and 2024 elections and subsequently provided false information in naturalization paperwork submitted in August 2025.
Federal prosecutors also accused Pakistani national Muhammad Khan, 50, of submitting a provisional ballot during the 2020 election before allegedly making false statements in a citizenship application five years later.
Other Central California defendants include nationals of India, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras and Canada. Several allegedly registered to vote years before submitting naturalization applications containing inaccurate statements about their citizenship claims or voting histories.
In the Eastern District of California, six lawful permanent residents face misdemeanor charges of voting illegally in federal elections. Each charge carries a statutory maximum penalty of one year in federal prison.
Mexican national Maricela Nazarín González, 43, allegedly registered to vote in 2020 while identifying herself as an American citizen and subsequently voted in elections in 2022, twice in 2024 and again in 2025.
Guatemalan national Rony de Jesús Sicaja, 38, allegedly registered in 2017 and participated in the June 2022 primary and November 2024 general election.
Prosecutors also charged Mexican national Camino Giles Jiménez, 51, who allegedly voted in three American elections despite knowing he was not a citizen. His most recent alleged participation occurred during the June 2026 primary.
Two other defendants, Filipino national Giezell Viduya Adawag, 41, and Indian national Kamlesh Navnitlal Shah, 67, allegedly registered and voted on the same day during the November 2024 general election.
In Northern California, five defendants face allegations involving unlawful voting, false statements under oath and attempts to obtain citizenship improperly.
Verónica Bullene, 43, a Mexican national also identified as Verónica Hernández Martínez, allegedly claimed American citizenship while registering to vote in 2022 and 2023, participated in the 2024 election and later denied those citizenship claims in her naturalization application.
The other Northern California defendants are David Shapiro, 41, of Georgia; Moe Thida Lwin, 57, of Myanmar; Manakotau Mataele Finau, 61, of Tonga; and Maribel del Carmen Garcés Barriga, 62, of Ecuador.
Prosecutors allege that all five participated in unlawful voting or voter-registration activity and provided inaccurate information concerning their citizenship status.
Four additional defendants were charged in the Southern District of California with offenses involving false citizenship claims, unlawful attempts to obtain naturalization and false statements during immigration proceedings.
Those defendants include Filipino nationals José Probitsado Amaro, 51, and Pamele Arbués Line, 56; Canadian national Jennifer Jung, 31; and Guatemalan national Erick Ronaldo Soto Mendizábal, 64.
Federal authorities allege that the four participated in the November 2024 general election and subsequently misrepresented their voting histories or previous citizenship claims during naturalization proceedings.
Pennsylvania prosecutors announced charges against nine noncitizens in two federal districts.
In the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Alfredo Santiesteban, 73, a Cuban national identified as living unlawfully in the United States, was charged with voting illegally in the 2024 general election.
Polish national Artur Kopacz, 50, a lawful permanent resident, faces two counts involving alleged voting in the 2022 and 2024 general elections.
Two additional lawful permanent residents, Cuban national Osmal Loy, 70, and Israeli national Yehuda Peer, 30, were charged with voting in the 2024 election.
Five defendants in the Middle District of Pennsylvania also face allegations of unlawful participation in federal elections.
They include Kenyan nationals Nina Nyawara, 21, and Joyce Donovan, 38, who allegedly voted in 2024, along with Russian national Inna Henry, 52; Dutch national Joyce Pitts, 80; and Greek national Nourten Kuruju, 64, whose alleged offenses involved the 2022 election.
Florida authorities announced charges against six lawful permanent residents in the Middle District of the state.
Cuban national Jamie Orlando Sosa Sardina, 60, was indicted on allegations that he falsely claimed American citizenship while registering to vote in 2022 and participated in the 2022 and 2024 federal general elections.
Ecuadorian national Martha Haydee Desantis, 81, faces similar allegations involving voter registration and participation in both elections.
Canadian national Lise Marie Johnson, 69, allegedly registered in 2021 and voted in the 2022 federal election.
Three other defendants — Cuban national Luis Manuel Perez, 72; Canadian national Diane Wendy Curley, 55; and Brazilian national Pedro Igor A. Franco, 37 — face allegations involving unlawful voting in the 2022 or 2024 federal elections.
In New York, prosecutors charged four lawful permanent residents across two districts.
German national Marva Cook, 66, faces charges in the Northern District of New York for allegedly voting in an election involving congressional races.
Three defendants in the Eastern District of New York — Irish national Eoin Cranney, 35; Guyanese national Ronald Sheldon Baird, 47; and Jamaican national Karlene Daniels Samuels, 55 — allegedly submitted fraudulent voter-registration applications and voted in the November 2024 general election.
According to the Justice Department, Cranney and Baird acknowledged during voluntary interviews with federal investigators that they were not American citizens and had voted despite knowing they were ineligible. The department also described an admission involving Samuels.
Nevada authorities charged Filipino national Jullie Ann Sumalinog Moore, 44, a lawful permanent resident, with unlawful voting in an election involving the presidency and congressional offices.
The department did not specify the election date in its announcement concerning Moore.
The prosecutions involve both allegations of ballots being cast unlawfully and separate offenses connected to citizenship documentation. Some defendants are accused of registering without eligibility, while others allegedly made inaccurate statements during applications to become naturalized citizens.
Federal law generally prohibits noncitizens from voting in elections for president, vice president or Congress. Lawful permanent residency does not provide federal voting eligibility, and falsely claiming American citizenship can carry additional criminal and immigration consequences.
The department’s announcement does not establish whether the alleged votes affected any election outcome or indicate that the defendants acted as part of a coordinated operation. The cases concern individual alleged violations across different jurisdictions and election years.
Federal prosecutors also distinguished among the charges, identifying some as misdemeanors while others involve felony allegations related to citizenship applications and immigration proceedings.
The announcement comes ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections, as federal authorities continue pursuing allegations involving voter eligibility and election-related offenses.
The Justice Department emphasized that the charges remain allegations. None of the defendants may be considered guilty unless prosecutors establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
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