{"id":377081,"date":"2026-10-19T18:12:20","date_gmt":"2026-10-19T18:12:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/377081\/"},"modified":"2026-10-19T18:12:20","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T18:12:20","slug":"feds-operation-protect-the-vote-smashes-huge-california-voter-fraud-ring","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/377081\/","title":{"rendered":"Feds’ \u2018Operation Protect the Vote\u2019 smashes huge California voter fraud ring"},"content":{"rendered":"

Federal agents collared suspects in a slew of voter fraud cases Monday morning, chasing targets across California drawn from a list of more than 20,000 suspected noncitizens<\/a> in the state who allegedly registered to vote in next month\u2019s midterm election.<\/p>\n

Under the effort dubbed \u201cOperation Protect the Vote,\u201d law enforcement authorities sought more than two-dozen foreign nationals charged with fraudulently registering to vote in US elections, in which most of them allegedly cast illegal ballots.<\/p>\n

Homeland Security Investigations swooped on the Commerce home of Alexander Mu\u00f1oz around 6 a.m. in one of the arrests.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up for the California Morning Report newsletter\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe biggest news, opinion and culture shaping California right now.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Authorities sought more than two dozen foreign nationals charged with fraudulently registering to vote in US elections. Carlin Stiehl for CA Post<\/p>\n

Federal agents collared suspects in a slew of voter fraud cases Monday morning, chasing targets across California. Carlin Stiehl for CA Post<\/p>\n

Homeland Security Investigations swooped on a Commerce home around 6 a.m. in one of the arrests. Carlin Stiehl for CA Post<\/p>\n

Omar Alexander Mu\u00f1oz is a Belizean national charged with voter fraud in LA. Carlin Stiehl for CA Post<\/p>\n

The agents pounded on the front door, calling for Mu\u00f1oz to come out. He emerged and was taken into custody. <\/p>\n

Authorities say Mu\u00f1oz, 72, a Belizean national, fraudulently registered to vote in September 2019, claiming he was a US citizen. He then voted in US elections in 2020, twice in 2022, and in 2024.<\/p>\n

Mu\u00f1oz also lied on his application to become a naturalized US citizen, when he falsely stated under oath to have never claimed to be a citizen, investigators say. He faces felony charges, including making false statements in a naturalization application.<\/p>\n

The arrest is made during the voter fraud raid in Los Angeles in the early hours of Monday. Carlin Stiehl for CA Post<\/p>\n

Under the effort dubbed \u201cOperation Protect the Vote,\u201d feds sought more than two-dozen foreign nationals. Carlin Stiehl for CA Pos<\/p>\n

LA\u2019s top federal prosecutor Bill Essayli<\/a> said the charges brought against Mu\u00f1oz and other suspects sought Monday buttress the federal government\u2019s claims of widespread voter fraud in California.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday\u2019s arrests confirm what we suspected and what we put California on notice for: Noncitizens are voting in California elections which is unconstitutional and illegal,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

In addition to Mu\u00f1oz, federal agents sought more than two-dozen addition individuals accused of similar crimes.<\/p>\n

HSI LA books Omar Alexander Mu\u00f1oz, 72, a Belizean national charged with voter fraud, at the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building in Los Angeles, California on Monday, October 19, 2026. Carlin Stiehl for CA Post<\/p>\n

LA\u2019s top federal prosecutor Bill Essayli said the charges brought against suspects buttress the fed\u2019s claims of voter fraud. Carlin Stiehl for CA Post<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t immediately clear how many suspects had been apprehended. Prosecutors planned a press conference for later on Monday morning to provide details.<\/p>\n

The arrests of alleged noncitizen voters were the latest escalation in a federal effort to tackle electoral wrongdoing in California, something local officials have denied is a widespread problem.<\/p>\n

The Trump administration last week filed a bombshell lawsuit against the state for failing to review a list of more than 20,000 suspected noncitizens<\/a> in the state who allegedly registered to vote in next month\u2019s midterm election.<\/p>\n

The suit filed Thursday came two days after Justice Department officials ordered the state\u2019s election bosses to review the list naming thousands of alleged noncitizens believed to be on California\u2019s voter rolls \u2014 giving them 48 hours to comply.<\/p>\n

DOJ lawyers argued in the suit that the federal government has an obligation to intervene to prevent the state from permitting noncitizens to vote in federal elections. Under federal law, only US citizens are permitted to vote in such elections.<\/p>\n

Federal officials supplied Los Angeles County with a password-protected thumb drive identifying suspected noncitizens who were sent mail-in ballots, according to letters sent Tuesday to Secretary of State Shirley Weber<\/a> and LA County Clerk Dean Logan.<\/p>\n

Acting Deputy Attorney General R. Trent McCotter<\/a>\u00a0warned Logan and Weber in the letter that they would face legal challenge if they failed to review the list in time. \u00a0A representative for Logan confirmed receipt of the letter.<\/p>\n

Gov. Gavin Newsom blasted the effort as an attempt to interfere with California\u2019s voting process. Pedro Colo for CA Post<\/p>\n

Gov. Gavin Newsom blasted the effort as an attempt to interfere with California\u2019s voting process.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a sad, desperate attempt by Trump to use his politicized Justice Department to try to suppress California voters just three weeks before Election Day,\u201d Newsom wrote on X. \u201cCourts have made clear the federal government has no role in running state elections.\u201d<\/p>\n

US Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the lawsuit.<\/p>\n

\u201cState-facilitated voter fraud is unacceptable in the United States of America,\u201d Blanche said. \u201cIf found responsible in a court of law, the State of California will have seriously undermined confidence in our electoral system.\u201d<\/p>\n

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters <\/p>\n

California Post News: Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, X<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, WhatsApp<\/a>, LinkedIn<\/a>
California Post Sports Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, X<\/a>
California Post Opinion<\/a>
California Post Newsletters: Sign up here!<\/a>
California Post App: Download here!<\/a>
Home delivery: Sign up here!<\/a>
<\/a>Page Six Hollywood: Sign up here!<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t