A 56-year-old Nigerian woman living in Massachusetts, United States, has been arrested and charged with allegedly voting in US elections despite not being an American citizen.
The woman, identified as Gladys Adaeze Okafor, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with unlawfully voting as an alien, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
Okafor, who resides in Lynn, Massachusetts, was born in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria. Prosecutors said she obtained lawful permanent resident status in the US in December 2022 but is not a US citizen and has not applied for American citizenship.
According to the federal charging documents, Okafor allegedly registered to vote in July 2022 and signed a declaration stating that she was a US citizen.
Prosecutors further alleged that she subsequently voted in the 2022 midterm elections.
The allegations also state that Okafor submitted another voter registration form in October 2023, again indicating that she was a US citizen.
Authorities allege that she later voted in the 2024 presidential primary election.
Following her arrest, Okafor was expected to appear before a federal court in Boston, where the case will proceed.
Possible penalties
If convicted, the charge of unlawfully voting as an alien carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $100,000, according to reports on the case.
The proceedings could also have immigration implications because Okafor is a lawful permanent resident rather than a US citizen.
The prosecution is being handled by Assistant US Attorney Julissa Walsh of the Major Crimes Unit.
The US Attorney’s Office stressed that the allegations contained in the charging documents are not proof of guilt. Okafor is presumed innocent unless and until she is found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
The case comes amid increased federal enforcement of alleged non-citizen voting and false citizenship claims in the United States.
