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More than two dozen suspects arrested last week in California’s biggest-ever voter fraud bust have been charged.
The defendants, some of whom were legal lawful residents, were charged in federal courts with a range of crimes including false statements in a naturalization application.
The charges come as federal authorities in California escalate their fight in the state over alleged wrongdoing in election processes.
Prosecutors say the crimes were committed in connection with illegal voting, fraudulent voter registration, and related election crimes.
Federal agents arrested the defendants in a series of raids across California raids last Monday under a statewide takedown dubbed “Operation Protect the Vote.”
They were identified from a list of more than 20,000 suspected noncitizens in the state who allegedly registered to vote in next month’s midterm election.
The California Post was there as Homeland Security Investigations swooped on the City of Commerce home of Alexander Muñoz around 6 a.m., swiftly taking the suspect into custody.
Muñoz, 72, a Belizean national, fraudulently registered to vote in September 2019, claiming he was a US citizen, according to prosecutors. He then voted in US elections in 2020, twice in 2022, and in 2024, court papers say.
Muñoz also lied on his application to become a naturalized US citizen, when he falsely stated under oath to have never claimed US citizenship, investigators say. He faces felony charges including making false statements in a naturalization application.
Muñoz has previous convictions in the US for grand theft and narcotics possession.
The defendants in California were arrested alongside suspects in Florida, New York, Nevada and Pennsylvania who are charged with similar crimes.
Nationwide, 48 alleged noncitizens were charged.
Los Angeles’ top prosecutor has warned upcoming midterm elections are under serious risk of being “corrupted.”
The charges brought against Muñoz and other suspects in the state buttress the federal government’s claims of widespread voter fraud, First Assistant US Attorney for the Central District Bill Essayli said.
The suspects charged in California include José Probitsado Amaro, 51, a citizen of the Philippines living in San Deigo County’s National City. Investigators say Amaro fraudulently registered to vote by falsely claiming to be a US citizen.
Amaro then cast a ballot in the November 2024 general election and made false statements during his naturalization interview, denying that he had ever claimed U.S. citizenship and misrepresenting his voting history, according to investigators.
Also facing charge is Moe Thida Lwin, 57, a Myanmar national and resident of Daly City outside San Francisco. Authorities say Lwin fraudulently registered to vote in 2024 and then proceeded to illegally vote in a US election.
The prosecutions come as the Department of Justice faces off with California over 20,000 voters who the federal government claims are noncitizens.
The DOJ has demanded the state set these votes aside, but California officials have claimed the federal government had no right to make such an intervention when the election is already underway.
The three judges in the case appeared sympathetic toward the state’s argument in a hearing Sunday but they adjourned without making a ruling. The feds and the state are due back in court again Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the DOJ has sent letters to every county in California asking election officials to help identify any noncitizen voters. It has also sued California Secretary of State Shirley Weber and the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder for having noncitizens on voter rolls.
Gov. Gavin Newsom blasted the DOJ’s attempts as a desperate “clown show” on Saturday — but Essayli quipped back: “Hey Fraud King. We’re not waiting for them to vote. You’re not allowed to have any noncitizens on your voter rolls. ‘Period. Full stop.’”