4 Noncitizens Charged for Voting in Elections

A man holds a mail-in ballot that is ready for scanning at the Lancaster County Government Center in Lancaster, Pa., on April 23, 2024. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

Four noncitizens who illegally voted in elections, or moved to vote, have been charged, federal officials said on Sept. 24.

Dilea Ochoa-Perez, 43, of Mexico, and Cliff Sanon, 39, of Haiti, both of whom are in the United States illegally and have been residing in Pennsylvania, were among those charged. Ochoa-Perez voted in the 2022 and 2024 federal general elections, prosecutors with the Department of Justice said. She faces up to two years in prison, one year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $200,000 if convicted.

Noncitizens are prohibited by federal law from voting in federal elections. Each violation carries up to one year’s imprisonment.

Sanon is accused of illegally voting in the November 2022 election and submitting an application to register to vote in February this year prior to the primary election in May. He also filed seven other fraudulent voter registration applications, authorities said.

Sanon faces up to five years in prison if convicted, as well as one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.

Sade Guppy, 37, who’s from Trinidad and Tobago and is in the United States as a lawful permanent resident, voted in the 2022 general election even though she is not a U.S. citizen, according to prosecutors. She faces up to one year in prison, one year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $100,000 if convicted.

Eduardo Gallardo Maldonado, 66, of Mexico, another lawful permanent resident, is accused of illegally voting in the November 2024 general election. If convicted, he faces up to one year behind bars, one year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $100,000.

It’s not clear whether the defendants have retained lawyers.

“Our sovereignty as a nation belongs to the American people and no one else,” U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania David Metcalf said in a statement. “Anyone, including illegal aliens, who votes illegally in our elections will be prosecuted for corrupting our democracy.”

Department of Homeland Security investigators carried out investigations into the individuals, the Department of Justice said.

“Voting by noncitizens is illegal and has real consequences for the American public,” Homeland Security Investigations Philadelphia Special Agent in Charge Nathan Abel said in a statement. “Every unlawful ballot can undermine confidence in the election process and diminish the voices of American citizens. HSI Philadelphia remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to investigate election-related fraud and help protect the integrity of U.S. elections.”