Noncitizen Voter Fraud Charges
Massachusetts Permanent Resident Charged With Unlawfully Voting in Recent Federal Elections
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Key Points
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Authorities allege that Okafor admitted during a recorded interview with a Homeland Security Investigations agent that she voted in the 2024 election.
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The case was announced by U.S. Attorney Leah Foley and Jeff Grimming, the acting special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Assistant U.S. Attorney Julissa Walsh is prosecuting the case.
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If convicted, Okafor could also face one year of supervised release and a $100,000 fine, and she may be subject to deportation after completing any sentence.
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The case is part of a wider federal enforcement effort: authorities have also pursued alleged noncitizen voting or fraudulent-registration cases involving seven people in Texas and five people in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Wisconsin.
Gladys Adaeze Okafor, a 56-year-old Nigerian citizen and Massachusetts resident, has been charged with unlawfully voting as a noncitizen. Just The News reports she falsely claimed to be a U.S. citizen on voter-registration forms in 2022 and 2023, then voted in the 2022 midterm elections and the 2024 presidential primary. Okafor admitted to voting during an interview with federal agents and now faces up to one year in prison.
How the Case Unfolded in Lynn
Okafor, who lives in Lynn, Massachusetts, registered to vote by falsely certifying she was a U.S. citizen. Legal Insurrection notes she obtained lawful permanent resident status but never applied for citizenship. When questioned by Homeland Security Investigations agents, she admitted in a recorded interview that she had voted in the 2024 election despite not being a citizen.
Penalties and Potential Deportation
If convicted, Okafor faces one year in federal prison, a $100,000 fine, and one year of supervised release. New Boston Post reports that deportation is also likely after she completes any prison sentence. The charge stems from false statements on official voter-registration documents—a felony under federal law.
Part of Broader Federal Voting Enforcement
Okafor's case is one of multiple noncitizen voting investigations currently being pursued by federal authorities. America's Voice reports that prosecutors have also charged seven people in Texas and five others in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Wisconsin with similar violations. U.S. Attorney Leah Foley announced the case, signaling stepped-up enforcement on voter eligibility issues.
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