Northern Texas U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould announced charges Tuesday against seven non-citizens accused of unlawfully voting in federal elections or falsely claiming U.S. citizenship.<\/p>\n
Six of the accused individuals voted or were registered to vote in Tarrant County, according to Raybould and other officials who spoke at a news conference in Fort Worth on Tuesday. One of the defendants registered to vote in Dallas County, authorities said.<\/p>\n
Six of the defendants were indicted on Sept. 10 and the seventh was charged by criminal complaint on Sept. 11. As of Sept. 15, all the defendants had been arrested.<\/p>\n
In addition to the federal charges, Tarrant County District Attorney Phil Sorrells announced charges against two more defendants in Tarrant County. Sorrells said both cases involve voter fraud, but he could not discuss any further information because the county has issued warrants but does not have anyone in custody yet.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen the evidence supports a criminal charge, we will act. A lawful vote should never be canceled out by an unlawful vote,\u201d Sorrells said.<\/p>\n
Voting sites the defendants used were East Library and Recreation Center in Arlington, the Como Community Center in Fort Worth and the Tarrant County Subcourthouse in Arlington, authorities said.<\/p>\n
The alleged crimes all took place between 2017 and 2024.<\/p>\n
Tarrant County District Attorney Phil Sorrells announces charges were brought against two individuals in Tarrant County accused of illegal voting activity. He spoke during a press conference on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, in Fort Worth. Amanda McCoy FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM <\/p>\n
\u201cWhen individuals intentionally violate the rules that safeguard our democracy, then that weakens every lawful vote cast by our great citizens,\u201d Raybould said.<\/p>\n
If convicted, punishments for the various charges range from up to six months to up to five years in prison.<\/p>\n
Joe Rothrock, FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge, said the bureau regularly relies on the public to come forward when they believe there has been illegal voting.<\/p>\n
The investigation was led by Homeland Security and FBI Dallas with assistance from the Election Integrity Unit of the Texas Office of the Attorney General and the Tarrant County District Attorney\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n
Who are defendants in voter fraud case?<\/p>\n
The following defendants are facing federal charges in the investigation, according to a U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office news release:<\/p>\n
Helen Sayen Adams, a 67-year-old citizen of Nigeria and lawful permanent resident (Green Card holder) since May 2024, is charged with voting by an alien in a federal election and false statement of citizenship in order to register to vote. Adams is accused of falsely claiming U.S. citizenship on a Texas voter registration application in June 2024 and voted in the November 2024 general election in Tarrant County, prosecutors allege.Joshua Nmelichukwu Akpom is a 27-year-old citizen of Nigeria and lawful permanent resident since 2016. He is charged with false statements in relation to naturalization. Prosecutors say he falsely denied on his 2026 naturalization application that he had ever claimed U.S. citizenship, registered to vote, or voted, despite registering in 2017 and voting in the 2018 general election. \u201cDue to the five\u2011year statute of limitations, prosecutors relied on the naturalization offense rather than the voting conduct\u201d in his case, the release states.Carlos Salas Barrios is a 41-year-old Mexican citizen and lawful permanent resident since 2018. He is charged with voting by an alien in a federal election. Prosecutors say Barrios unlawfully cast a provisional ballot in Tarrant County in the November 2024 general election despite not being a U.S. citizen and not being registered. The ballot was ultimately rejected, but prosecutors allege that casting it was still unlawful under Texas and federal law.Khalwinder Singh Bhengura is a 69-year-old citizen of India and lawful permanent resident since 2022, and is charged with voting by an alien in a federal election and false statement of citizenship in order to register to vote. Prosecutors say Bhengura falsely claimed citizenship when registering to vote in January 2024 and again when applying for a Texas driver license later in August of that year. He voted in the November 2024 election and later admitted he knew he was not a U.S. citizen, according to the release.Celestin Katubadi is a 20-year-old citizen of the Democratic Republic of Congo and lawful permanent resident. He is charged with voting by an alien in a federal election and false statement of citizenship in order to vote. Katubadi cast a provisional ballot in Tarrant County during the November 2024 general election after falsely claiming citizenship on an affidavit of provisional voter, prosecutors said. His ballot was rejected.Rocio Thrasher is a 38-year-old Mexican citizen and lawful permanent resident since 2017. She is charged with voting by an alien in a federal election and false statement of citizenship in order to register to vote. According to the indictment, Thrasher is accused of falsely declaring U.S. citizenship when registering in June 2024 and voting in the November 2024 election.Moises Anwar Arellano\u2011Alba is a 36-year-old from Mexico who was ordered deported in July. He is charged with voting by an alien in a federal election and false statement of citizenship in order to register to vote. He is accused of falsely claiming U.S. citizenship when applying for a Texas driver license in 2023 and voting early in the 2024 general election in Dallas County despite being a non\u2011citizen and a convicted felon, prosecutors said. Arellano\u2011Alba surrendered himself to federal agents.<\/p>\n
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