Federal prosecutors in Pennsylvania have charged two noncitizens living in the state with casting ballots in recent American elections, the latest in a string of cases brought by Homeland Security Investigations as part of what officials describe as a crackdown on election fraud.
Cliff Sanon, 39, a Haitian national, is accused of voting in the November 2022 general election and submitting a voter registration application in Philadelphia County — allegedly at least eight times in total, including one application dated February 2026. Dilea Ochoa-Perez, 43, a Mexican national, was charged with two counts of voting as an alien for allegedly casting ballots in Chester County in both November 2022 and November 2024. The pair is among four noncitizens arrested by federal agents in the battleground state since Friday.
A Pattern of Charges
The Justice Department announced the charges alongside a photo showing Sanon being taken into custody by HSI. If convicted on the voting charge, he faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, one year of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment. Ochoa-Perez faces up to two years in prison, one year of supervised release, a $200,000 fine, and a $50 special assessment.
The cases follow earlier arrests of two lawful permanent residents in Pennsylvania. Sade Guppy, 37, a Trinidad and Tobago national, is accused of voting in Philadelphia County in November 2022. Eduardo Gallardo Maldonado, 66, a Mexican national, allegedly voted in Philadelphia County in November 2024.
In a statement, Nathan Abel, acting special agent in charge of HSI Philadelphia, said the arrests underscore the consequences of noncitizen voting. “Every unlawful ballot can undermine confidence in the election process and diminish the voices of American citizens,” Abel said. “HSI Philadelphia remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to investigate election-related fraud and help protect the integrity of U.S. elections.”
U.S. Attorney David Metcalf of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania echoed that message. “Our sovereignty as a nation belongs to the American people and no one else,” he said. “Anyone, including illegal aliens, who votes illegally in our elections will be prosecuted for corrupting our democracy.”
A Broader Legal Fight Over Voter Rolls
The arrests come amid a separate legal battle between the Justice Department and Pennsylvania over access to voter registration data. In September 2025, the department sued the state for refusing to turn over unredacted voter rolls, arguing the information was necessary to identify and remove noncitizens from the rolls. A federal judge appointed by former President Barack Obama dismissed the lawsuit, and the Justice Department appealed the decision in July.
The charges against Sanon and Ochoa-Perez are the latest in a series of election integrity cases brought by federal authorities in Pennsylvania, a state that has been central to national electoral politics. The Justice Department has not indicated whether additional arrests are expected.
Both defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Source: www.dailywire.com — https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-feds-nab-two-illegal-immigrants-accused-of-voting-in-american-elections