US authorities brought election-related charges involving 48 noncitizens across five states, including allegations of illegal voting and fraudulent voter registration, the US Department of Justice said on Oct. 26.
The charges extended beyond voting to allegations involving citizenship claims and applications to become US citizens. The department announced them in its Oct. 26 press release, “Justice Department Announces Charges Involving 48 Aliens for Election-Related Crimes.”
The cases covered Pennsylvania, California, Florida, New York and Nevada, the department said. They included allegations that noncitizens voted in federal elections and falsely claimed US citizenship to register to vote or cast ballots.
The department said four noncitizens faced charges of illegally voting, including one person it described as being in the United States illegally. It also said six defendants faced charges of voting as noncitizens in federal elections.
The latter offense is a misdemeanor carrying a maximum sentence of one year in federal prison, the department said. That figure is the statutory maximum for the offense, rather than a sentence imposed on any defendant.
The department said 13 defendants faced felony charges, including allegations of false statements in an application for naturalization, the process of becoming a US citizen. The supplied details did not identify their jurisdiction.
Five defendants faced charges of attempting to obtain naturalization unlawfully, making false statements under oath in matters involving naturalization or citizenship, and voting as noncitizens, the department said.
Another four defendants faced charges of falsely claiming citizenship to vote, unlawfully attempting to obtain naturalization and making false statements under oath in naturalization or citizenship matters, the department said.
Among the named defendants, German national Marva Cook, 66, a lawful permanent resident, faced a charge of voting as a noncitizen. The department alleged she voted in an election that included US Senate and House races.
Filipino national Jullie Ann Sumalinog Moore, 44, also a lawful permanent resident, faced the same charge. The department alleged she voted in an election that included contests for president, vice president, Senate and House.
The allegations against Cook and Moore concerned participation in elections for federal offices. The department identified both women as lawful permanent residents, a different immigration status from the person it described as being in the country illegally.
The department said criminal complaints, indictments and informations contain accusations only. All defendants are presumed innocent unless prosecutors prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
