Philippine National Charged with Voting Illegally as an Alien in Federal Election

TULSA, Okla. - A native and citizen of the Philippines, Maria Elenor Lopez Rios, 45, and a lawful permanent resident of the United States, was charged by Criminal Complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma with falsely claiming U.S. citizenship, making false statements in relation to voter registration, submitting a fraudulent voter registration, and unlawfully voting in a federal election. Rios was arrested today pursuant to the complaint.

"Free and fair elections depend on the integrity of our voter registration and election systems," said U.S. Attorney Christopher Nassar. "When individuals falsely claim U.S. citizenship to register, or vote, they undermine the public's trust in those systems and dilute the votes of American citizens. Our office will continue to work with our law-enforcement partners to safeguard the election process and ensure that only those legally eligible to vote are able to do so."

According to the complaint, Department of Homeland Security records show that Rios entered the United States in 2017 and has never been a United States citizen. In March 2022, Rios allegedly registered to vote in Tulsa County, falsely affirming under penalty of perjury that she was a U.S. citizen. On Rios's application for naturalization paperwork in March 2026, she allegedly claimed she had never voted, nor claimed to be a U.S. citizen. Voter registration records reflect that she voted in the November 2022, federal midterm election in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

The charges arise from an investigation initiated after the Tulsa County Election Board referred several instances where non-citizens were removed from jury duty lists because of indications they were not U.S. citizens. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tulsa reviewed these referrals and determined that Rios had both registered to vote and cast a ballot despite her immigration status prohibiting her from lawfully doing so.

If convicted, Rios faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tulsa with assistance from the Tulsa County Election Board. Assistant U.S. Attorney Augustus Forster is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The public plays a critical role in maintaining election security. Anyone who witnesses or has direct knowledge of potential election fraud, voter intimidation, or unlawful voting activity is strongly encouraged to report it immediately.

Please visit the official FBI Tips Portal or contact local law enforcement to report potential election fraud or voting irregularities. Complaints regarding voter discrimination or civil rights violations can also be directed to the Civil Rights Division via the Department of Justice Civil Rights Reporting Portal.