Voter fraud charges have been brought against 16 noncitizens in Florida after state investigators used immigration-status reviews and election records to identify people accused of registering and voting while ineligible, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
USCIS announced the assistance on September 29, 2026, saying its work supported a Florida voter fraud investigation involving the state Department of Law Enforcement, the Department of State’s Office of Election Crimes and Security, county Supervisors of Elections and the Office of Statewide Prosecution.
The announcement does not establish that any defendant is guilty of voter fraud.
Each person is entitled to contest the allegations in court, and the cases remain active.
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What Florida investigators allege about voter fraud
According to USCIS, the voter fraud cases began with referrals from the Florida Department of State’s election-crimes office and county election supervisors.
Those referrals followed reviews of voter-registration records and federal databases that allegedly flagged registered voters who were not U.S. citizens.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigators then obtained registration applications, poll-book signatures, vote-by-mail certificates and post-election notices informing individuals that they were ineligible to vote.
USCIS said it helped confirm the immigration status of the people under investigation.
Prosecutors allege that the charged noncitizens registered to vote by falsely affirming that they were U.S. citizens and then cast ballots in Florida elections, conduct at the center of the voter fraud allegations.
The cases span Brevard, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Hillsborough, Lee, Marion, Okeechobee and Polk counties.
The voter fraud investigation remains ongoing, and USCIS said additional arrests and charges are expected.
Lawful permanent residents cannot vote in Florida
Florida’s Division of Elections states that only U.S. citizens may register or vote in Florida.
That rule applies to lawful permanent residents, commonly known as green card holders, even though they may live and work permanently in the United States.
A person with dual citizenship may vote if the person is a U.S. citizen and otherwise meets the state’s eligibility requirements.
The distinction is important because some of the defendants identified by USCIS were lawful permanent residents who had held their immigration status for decades.
Permanent residence does not confer the right to vote in federal, state or local elections.
Citizenship eligibility must be established separately through naturalization or another lawful path to U.S. citizenship.
Examples included in the announcement
USCIS identified several defendants in the voter fraud cases who were arrested or charged at the time of the announcement.
Astrid Shamatu Navarrete Quintana of Fort Myers is accused of registering in August 2024 and voting in person on November 5, 2024.
USCIS said she later signed a Citizenship Acknowledgement Form stating that she was not a U.S. citizen.
Selvin Uton Whilby of Tampa is accused of voting by mail in the 2024 primary and general elections after registering in 2008.
Investigators also allege that Cyntia Vanessa Canales of Ocala registered in 2012 and again in 2022 before voting early in person on October 27, 2024.
Craig William Smith of Ocala is accused of voting in both the 2024 primary and general elections after registering in 2002.
Tracey Sabrina Jones of Lakeland is accused of registering in 1995 and voting early in person on October 26, 2024.
Kadian Gabrielle Amai Johnson of Lehigh Acres is accused of registering in September 2024 and voting in person on November 5, 2024.
Other defendants named by USCIS include Mei-Lin Johnston of Okeechobee, Alejandro Garcia Villegas of Lake City, Manon M.
Raux of Naples, James Mark Hollingsworth of Lake Suzy and Giorgio Dominique Mucelli of Melbourne.
The allegations differ by defendant and may involve one or multiple elections, in-person voting, mail voting, false swearing or false affirmations.
Separate allegations involving felony convictions
Florida prosecutors also charged four individuals with felony convictions who allegedly registered and voted while still on probation.
Florida election officials say people convicted of most felonies generally regain voting eligibility only after completing every term of their sentence, including incarceration, parole or probation and qualifying financial obligations.
People convicted of murder or a felony sexual offense remain ineligible unless their voting rights are restored through clemency.
Whether a person may vote after a felony conviction can depend on the offense, the state where the conviction occurred, the terms of the sentence and whether all required obligations have been completed.
Anyone uncertain about eligibility should obtain guidance from the relevant county Supervisor of Elections or the Florida Division of Elections before registering or voting.
Potential penalties and next steps
USCIS said the voter fraud charges involve third-degree felonies under Florida law.
The agency said most defendants face up to 10 years in the Florida Department of Corrections if convicted, while Hollingsworth faces up to 20 years based on the charges described in the announcement.
Actual consequences would depend on the charges proven, the number of counts, criminal history, sentencing decisions and any plea agreements.
Accused individuals will proceed through the criminal court system, where prosecutors must prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
The immigration consequences of a conviction can also depend on the person’s status, the precise offense, the sentence and other facts.
Noncitizens facing criminal charges should obtain advice from a qualified criminal-defense attorney and an immigration attorney before entering a plea or signing documents.
How the investigation process works
Florida’s Office of Election Crimes and Security conducts preliminary investigations into alleged irregularities involving voter registration, voting and certain petition activities.
After reviewing a complaint or referral, the office may send evidence to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Office of Statewide Prosecution or a local state attorney when prosecution is warranted.
In the voter fraud cases announced September 29, USCIS’s role was to help verify immigration status after election records raised questions about eligibility.
The state investigation then relied on documentary evidence such as registration forms, signatures, voting records and notices issued after eligibility reviews.
This process is designed to distinguish a registration error from an allegation that a person knowingly claimed U.S. citizenship and voted.
What voters and immigrants should know
People who are not U.S. citizens should not register to vote or cast ballots in Florida elections.
Signing a voter-registration form that includes a citizenship affirmation can create serious legal consequences if the statement is false.
Immigration applicants and lawful permanent residents should not assume that receiving a registration form at a motor-vehicle office or another public agency means they are eligible to vote.
Individuals who believe they were registered by mistake should promptly contact their county Supervisor of Elections and seek qualified legal advice about potential voter fraud concerns.
They should preserve copies of registration records, notices and correspondence rather than ignoring an inquiry from election officials.
People who wish to report suspected voter fraud in Florida may contact the state’s Office of Election Crimes and Security through its official complaint process.
The state’s voter-fraud hotline is 1-877-868-3737, according to the Florida Division of Elections.
Why the USCIS role matters
The announcement reflects a broader use of immigration-status information in state voter fraud investigations.
USCIS said its assistance helped Florida officials confirm whether individuals identified through voter-record reviews were citizens or noncitizens.
The agency described the work as part of its effort to identify immigration fraud and support accountability.
At the same time, a database match or administrative notice is not by itself a criminal conviction.
Courts will determine whether the allegations are supported by admissible evidence and whether each defendant knowingly violated Florida law.
The investigation’s final scope will not be clear until prosecutors disclose additional charging documents, court proceedings and any disposition of the pending cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can lawful permanent residents vote in Florida?
No. Florida’s Division of Elections says only U.S. citizens may register and vote. Lawful permanent residents, or green card holders, cannot vote unless they also have U.S. citizenship and meet all other eligibility requirements.
What did USCIS say about the Florida cases?
USCIS said it helped Florida officials confirm the immigration status of people identified during voter-registration and election-record reviews. Prosecutors then charged 16 noncitizens with alleged unlawful registration and voting.
Are the defendants convicted?
No. The announcement concerns arrests and criminal charges. The allegations must be resolved in court, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
What should someone do if they may have registered by mistake?
The person should promptly contact the county Supervisor of Elections, preserve relevant records and consult a qualified attorney, particularly if the person is not a U.S. citizen or has an immigration case pending.
How can Florida residents report suspected election fraud?
The Florida Division of Elections directs residents to use its election-fraud complaint process or call the voter-fraud hotline at 1-877-868-3737.
Fact-Checked: This report was checked against the USCIS announcement dated September 29, 2026 and current Florida Division of Elections guidance available as of September 30, 2026.
Disclaimer: This article reports government allegations and official eligibility guidance, not final court findings or individualized legal advice.
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