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Federal Prosecutors Charge Massachusetts Resident with Illegal Voting
Just the facts
Federal prosecutors charged 56-year-old Gladys Adaeze Okafor, a Nigerian citizen residing as a lawful permanent resident in Lynn, Massachusetts, with unlawfully voting as a noncitizen. According to court records, Okafor submitted voter registration cards in July 2022 and October 2023 certifying under penalty of perjury that she was a United States citizen. Federal authorities allege that Okafor subsequently cast ballots in the 2022 midterm elections and the 2024 presidential primary election despite not obtaining citizenship. The Department of Justice stated that Okafor faces penalties of up to one year in prison and fines of up to $10,000 if convicted. The defendant was ordered to make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston.
Why this is news
The United States Department of Justice filed criminal charges in federal court against a Massachusetts permanent resident for allegedly voting in federal and state elections without holding citizenship. The indictment alleges that the defendant submitted false citizenship declarations on official voter registration forms.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.