A 42-year-old illegal immigrant from Guatemala living in Alabama was charged on Thursday by the U.S. Department of Justice for illegally assuming a U.S. citizen’s identity and using it to vote in multiple elections.
According the nine-count indictment, Angelica Maria Francisco, most recently of Russellville, assumed a U.S. citizen’s identity in 2011 to fraudulently obtain a passport, which she used to travel between the U.S. and Guatemala multiple times.
She also used the false identity to illegally register to vote in Alabama and cast ballots in the 2016 and 2020 elections. In 2021, she renewed the fraudulent passport and continued traveling internationally under the false identity.
As per the plea agreement filed in U.S. District Court, Francisco will plead guilty to all charges.
Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen, who has recently raised the alarm on the threat of illegal immigrants participating in American elections, stressed the reality of today’s indictment, and said his office, along with law enforcement partners, will prosecute those who vote illegally.
“I’ve been very clear that that a top priority of this Office is ensuring only eligible American citizens are voting in Alabama elections,” Secretary Allen said.
“I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Alabama for their diligent efforts in investigating and charging this individual. We will continue to assist law enforcement in every way possible as they prosecute individuals who vote illegally in our elections to the fullest extent of the law.”
The U.S. State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Atlanta Resident Office investigated the case, with assistance from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the East Metro Area Crime Center, and the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett A. Janich is prosecuting the case.
Grayson Everett is the state and political editor for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270
