A federal grand jury in Santa Ana has indicted 10 non-citizens suspected of illegally registering to vote by falsely claiming to be U.S. citizens.
asserted
jury → indict → citizens
The defendants live in Los Angeles and Orange counties, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California.
uncertain
defendants → live → California
All 10 are lawful permanent residents, commonly known as green card holders.
asserted
10 → know → holders
As lawful permanent residents, they are not eligible to register to vote or cast ballots in U.S. elections.
asserted
they → register → elections
The charges form part of ''Operation Protect the Vote,'' an ongoing federal effort to investigate alleged election fraud in California, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
uncertain
Operation → form → Office
Nine of the defendants are accused of making false statements on their naturalization applications by denying they had previously claimed to be U.S. citizens or registered to vote in U.S. elections.
asserted
they → accuse → elections
The U.S. Attorney's Office said the 10 individuals had faced federal criminal complaints before the indictments were returned.
asserted
indictments → say → complaints
Omar Alexander Muñoz, 72, a Belizean national living in Commerce, allegedly registered to vote in September 2019, falsely declaring U.S. citizenship.
uncertain
Muñoz → live → citizenship
He subsequently voted in the 2020 general election, twice in 2022 and again in 2024.
asserted
He → vote → 2024
Prosecutors allege he later denied claiming U.S. citizenship or registering to vote on his naturalization application.
asserted
he → allege → application
His arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 16.
asserted
arraignment → schedule → Nov.
Muhammad Khan, 50, a Pakistani national living in Anaheim, allegedly submitted a provisional ballot in 2020 while falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen.
uncertain
Khan → live → 2020
Five years later, on his naturalization paperwork, he allegedly denied having done so.
uncertain
he → deny → paperwork
His arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 16.
asserted
arraignment → schedule → Nov.
Ana Domínguez, 60, a Salvadoran national living in Long Beach, allegedly registered to vote in July 2006.
uncertain
Domínguez → live → July
She later falsely denied doing so on her naturalization paperwork in March 2026.
asserted
She → deny → March
Her arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 16.
asserted
arraignment → schedule → Nov.
José Antonio Bañuelos-Díaz, 42, a Mexican national living in West Adams, allegedly registered to vote in 2007 by falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen.
uncertain
Díaz → live → 2007
Prosecutors allege he later denied doing so on his naturalization paperwork in March 2025.
asserted
he → allege → March
His arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 16.
asserted
arraignment → schedule → Nov.
Jesús Narez-Madrigal, 52, a Mexican national living in Carson, allegedly registered to vote in 2014, falsely declaring U.S. citizenship.
uncertain
Madrigal → live → citizenship
He subsequently voted in the 2024 general election.
asserted
He → vote → election
He allegedly made false statements about his voting history on his June 2024 naturalization application.
uncertain
He → make → application
His arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 17.
asserted
arraignment → schedule → Nov.
Carlos Antonio Galeas, 54, a Honduran national living in West Covina, allegedly registered to vote in 2012 and 2016, falsely declaring U.S. citizenship.
uncertain
Galeas → live → citizenship
He later allegedly denied the registrations on his September 2018 naturalization application.
uncertain
He → deny → application
His arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 17.
asserted
arraignment → schedule → Nov.
Flavio Alejandro Zúñiga, 43, a Mexican national living in La Puente, allegedly registered to vote in 2003 by falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen.
uncertain
Zúñiga → live → 2003
Prosecutors allege he later denied doing so on his naturalization paperwork in February 2026.
asserted
he → allege → February
His arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 17.
asserted
arraignment → schedule → Nov.
Amandeep Kaur, 30, an Indian national living in Rancho Palos Verdes, allegedly registered to vote in December 2022.
uncertain
Kaur → live → December
She subsequently voted in the November 2024 election.
asserted
She → vote → election
Prosecutors allege she later denied ever claiming to be a U.S. citizen or registering to vote on her naturalization application.
asserted
she → allege → application
Her arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 20.
asserted
arraignment → schedule → Nov.
Axel Giovani Prera García, 46, a Guatemalan national living in Pico Rivera, allegedly registered to vote in 2002 and 2005, falsely declaring U.S. citizenship.
uncertain
García → live → citizenship
He later allegedly made false statements on his June 2025 naturalization application regarding his voting history.
uncertain
He → make → history
The 10th defendant, Ernesto Gutiérrez Ruvalcaba, 57, a Mexican national living in Wilmington, is accused of falsely claiming U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in February 2024.
asserted
defendant → live → February
He allegedly cast a ballot the following month and is a fugitive.
uncertain
He → cast → ballot
If convicted, each defendant could face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison.
uncertain
defendant → convict → prison
The Aporia
