4 Filipinos named in US DOJ's 48-defendant election crime announcement

NEW YORK — With the November 3 midterm elections approaching, four Filipino US permanent residents were named in a US Department of Justice announcement involving election-related offenses.

The four are among 48 noncitizens charged in Pennsylvania, California, Florida, New York, and Nevada, with offenses involving illegal voting, fraudulent voter registration, and related election crimes. The allegations include voting in federal elections as noncitizens and falsely claiming US citizenship to register to vote or cast ballots.

Three of the Filipino defendants are from California, and one is from Nevada. Among the California residents, one of them is a 41-year-old who allegedly falsely claimed US citizenship when registering to vote and casting a ballot in the November 2024 election.

The two other individuals, aged 51 and 56, also registered for and voted in the November 2024 elections. They allegedly misrepresented their citizenship and voting history during their separate naturalization interviews.

As for the Nevada resident, she is 44-year-old who was charged with voting as a noncitizen in a federal election involving races for president, vice president, the US Senate, and the US House of Representatives.

The October 26 announcement includes three California Filipino defendants previously named in the Justice Department's October 19 announcement.

Thirteen defendants in the Central District of California face felony charges, including making false statements in naturalization applications.

Based on Justice Department announcements, at least eight Filipinos with US permanent resident status have been charged in recent cases involving illegal voting or related election offenses nationwide. At least two of them have pleaded guilty.

Earlier this month, the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C., issued a public advisory reminding Filipinos in the United States to verify their US citizenship before registering to vote or casting a ballot. Those who vote unlawfully may face criminal charges and immigration consequences. — VDV, GMA News