Six people in California, Kansas and Louisiana are facing federal charges in separate cases involving alleged illegal voting, fraudulent voter registration and identity fraud.
In California, three people are accused of using stolen identities of registered voters to create signatures for ballot initiative petitions.
“These defendants are charged with using stolen identities of registered voters to manufacture signatures on ballot petitions used to shape California law,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. “They allegedly used people, including members of Skid Row’s vulnerable homeless population, to try to cover up their tracks. The charged conduct undermines the confidence voters have in our election systems, and we will vigorously investigate and charge anyone involved.”
Prosecutors allege they paid people on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles to sign the petitions using those identities. One defendant was arrested last week.
“Protecting election integrity for the American people is one of the top priorities for this FBI,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Every American citizen has a right to free and fair elections — and we will not hesitate to use all available resources to investigate every credible allegation of election fraud and illegal voting.”
In Kansas, a 24-year-old Peruvian national and permanent U.S. resident is accused of falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen to register and vote in a 2024 federal election.
In Louisiana, a woman is accused of fraudulently registering another person to vote by claiming he was a U.S. citizen. That man is separately charged with allegedly voting in the November 2024 election despite being ineligible to vote.
“Two aliens in Kansas and Louisiana are charged with illegally voting,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin. “Voter fraud is already a serious problem, but non-citizens voting is even worse. Every time a non-citizen casts a ballot, it steals a vote from an American citizen. Thanks to our partners at the Department of Justice, these aliens and other suspects accused of voter fraud will face justice and can no longer poison our election processes. Only Americans should be allowed to decide America’s future and elect America’s leaders.”
“The Department of Justice remains committed to protecting election integrity and is actively investigating and prosecuting these cases,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser for the District of Kansas. “With another election looming, the Department’s effort serves as a stark reminder to individuals who are not legally authorized to vote not to engage in this conduct. Should individuals be determined by a court of law to have illegally claimed U.S. citizenship and voted or attempted to vote in federal elections, they will face serious criminal consequences.”
“Protecting the integrity of Louisiana’s elections — and our national elections — is essential to protecting our constitutional republic,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana. “The right to vote is sacred. When individuals undermine that process through fraud or abuse, they threaten the public’s confidence in a fair and lawful election system. Our Office will continue to safeguard the sanctity of the vote and hold accountable those who violate our laws.”
The cases are being investigated by federal authorities, including the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations. The people charged are accused of crimes and have not been convicted.
