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.
asserted
some → charge → application
Prosecutors say the crimes were committed in connection with illegal voting, fraudulent voter registration, and related election crimes.
asserted
crimes → say → voting
Federal agents arrested the defendants in a series of raids across California raids last Monday under a statewide takedown dubbed “Operation Protect the Vote.”
asserted
agents → arrest → 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.
uncertain
who → identify → 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.
asserted
Investigations → swoop → custody
Muñoz, 72, a Belizean national, fraudulently registered to vote in September 2019, claiming he was a US citizen, according to prosecutors.
uncertain
he → register → prosecutors
He then voted in US elections in 2020, twice in 2022, and in 2024, court papers say.
asserted
papers → vote → 2024
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.
asserted
investigators → lie → citizenship
He faces felony charges including making false statements in a naturalization application.
asserted
He → face → application
Muñoz has previous convictions in the US for grand theft and narcotics possession.
asserted
Muñoz → have → theft
The defendants in California were arrested alongside suspects in Florida, New York, Nevada and Pennsylvania who are charged with similar crimes.
asserted
who → arrest → crimes
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.
uncertain
Essayli → bring → District
The suspects charged in California include José Probitsado Amaro, 51, a citizen of the Philippines living in San Deigo County’s National City.
asserted
suspects → charge → City
Investigators say Amaro fraudulently registered to vote by falsely claiming to be a US citizen.
asserted
Amaro → say → ?
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.
uncertain
he → cast → investigators
Also facing charge is Moe Thida Lwin, 57, a Myanmar national and resident of Daly City outside San Francisco.
asserted
Lwin → face → Francisco
Authorities say Lwin fraudulently registered to vote in 2024 and then proceeded to illegally vote in a US election.
asserted
Lwin → say → election
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.
asserted
election → demand → intervention
The three judges in the case appeared sympathetic toward the state’s argument in a hearing Sunday but they adjourned without making a ruling.
asserted
they → appear → ruling
Meanwhile, the DOJ has sent letters to every county in California asking election officials to help identify any noncitizen voters.
asserted
DOJ → send → voters
It has also sued California Secretary of State Shirley Weber and the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder for having noncitizens on voter rolls.
asserted
It → sue → rolls
Gov. Gavin Newsom blasted the DOJ’s attempts as a desperate “clown show” on Saturday — but Essayli quipped back: “Hey Fraud King.
asserted
Essayli → blast → Saturday
We’re not waiting for them to vote.
asserted
them → wait → ?
You’re not allowed to have any noncitizens on your voter rolls.
asserted
noncitizens → allow → rolls
The Aporia
