Federal Vote Probe: Six More LA Residents Charged With False Citizenship Claims

Six lawful permanent residents of Los Angeles County now face federal charges for allegedly registering to vote and casting ballots while claiming U.S. citizenship. The defendants, who live in the Antelope and San Fernando valleys, are accused of lying about their citizenship status on voter registration forms and later denying those actions on their naturalization applications.

Federal prosecutors announced the charges on Monday. The new indictments expand the ongoing investigation, known as Operation Protect the Vote, to a total of 34 defendants. This federal effort targets suspected illegal voting by noncitizens in California elections. The six newly charged individuals include a 43-year-old from the Philippines, a 31-year-old from Mexico, a 35-year-old from Israel, a 52-year-old from Canada, a 35-year-old from Iran, and a 46-year-old from Mexico.

Their homes are located in Palmdale, West Hills, Agua Dulce, and Canoga Park. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli stated that his office is charging these six noncitizens for unlawfully participating in elections. He noted that all 34 defendants charged in the probe were included on a list previously provided to California officials. Essayli also claimed that thousands of suspected noncitizens remain on state voter rolls and urged state officials to verify voter eligibility.

The Justice Department did not include evidence in its announcement quantifying how many noncitizens are currently registered statewide. Under federal law, noncitizens, including green card holders, are generally barred from voting in federal elections. The charges focus on the false statements made during the naturalization process rather than the act of voting itself. Each defendant faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison if convicted.

Five of the six defendants were arrested and scheduled for initial appearances in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. Prosecutors did not specify a date for the sixth defendant's initial appearance. The case reflects a sustained federal effort to scrutinize the intersection of immigration status and electoral participation in the region. The investigation continues as authorities work through the remaining names on the list provided to state agencies.