Federal jury finds Indian national guilty of unlawfully voting in 2024 Presidential Election

FORT WORTH, Texas - United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that a federal jury convicted Indian national Khalwinder Singh Bhengura of voting by an alien in a federal election and making a false claim of U.S. citizenship to register to vote.

After a two-day trial before U.S. District Judge Mark T. Pittman, the jury deliberated for several hours and returned its verdict Oct. 27.

"Voting in our national elections is reserved for US citizens," said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. "Every unlawful vote undermines the voices of eligible citizens, and this office will hold accountable anyone who undermines our elections. This verdict reflects the jury's careful consideration of the evidence and our commitment to protecting the integrity of the electoral process in North Texas."

According to evidence presented at trial, Bhengura, a citizen of India, became a lawful permanent resident of the United States on June 29, 2022. He is not a U.S. citizen and has never applied for citizenship. On Aug. 1, 2024, Bhengura applied for a Texas driver license in Tarrant County. In that application, he checked boxes stating that he was a U.S. citizen and wished to register to vote. Based on that application, Bhengura was registered to vote in Texas.

On Nov. 5, 2024, the defendant voted in person at the East Library and Recreation Center in Arlington, Texas, in a general election that included races for President, Vice President, U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives.

Sentencing is set for Feb. 11, 2027. Bhengura faces up to five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for false statements of citizenship in order to register to vote and up to one year imprisonment and maximum fine of $100,00o for voting by an alien in a federal election. Bhengura could also be subject to immigration penalties such as removal from the United States after he serves his term of imprisonment.

The HSI Dallas field office conducted the investigation with assistance from the Election Integrity Unit of the Texas Office of the Attorney General and the Tarrant County District Attorney's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Capoccia and Colin Duffy from the Fort Worth Division prosecuted the case.

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