Six Aliens Charged for Falsely Claiming United States’ Citizenship to Vote and/or Illegally Voting in 2022 and 2024 Elections

Ocala, Florida - United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the filing of federal charges involving six aliens, all lawful permanent residents, for falsely claiming United States' citizenship to vote and/or illegally voting in 2022 and 2024 elections.

Jamie Orlando Sosa Sardina, 60, a Cuban national, Martha Haydee Desantis, 81, an Ecuadorian national, and Lise Marie Johnson, 69, a Canadian national, have each been charged by indictment with making a false statement claiming United States' citizenship to vote and illegal voting by an alien. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison on the false statement charge and up to one year imprisonment for the illegal voting offense. According to the indictments, Sardina registered to vote in 2022 and voted in the 2022 and 2024 federal general elections; Desantis re-registered to vote in 2024 and voted in the 2022 and 2024 federal general elections; and Johnson registered to vote in 2021 and voted in the 2022 federal general election. All voted despite knowing that they were not citizens of the United States.

Luis Manuel Perez, 72, a Cuban national, Diane Wendy Curley, 55, a Canadian national, and Pedro Igor A. Franco, 37, a Brazilian national, all lawful permanent residents, were charged by information with illegal voting by an alien. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of up to one year in federal prison. According to the informations, Perez and Curley voted in the 2022 and 2024 federal general elections; Franco voted in the 2024 federal general election.

Indictments and informations are merely formal charging documents alleging that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until proven guilty.

These cases were investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Florida Department of State - Office of Election Crimes, and the Hernando County Supervisor of Elections. They are being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Jerry M. Harre.