Alien from Canada Charged with Falsely Claiming to be a US Citizen to Register to Vote

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - An alien from Canada was arrested and charged with falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen to register to vote. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Missouri made the announcement. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services assisted the investigation.

Christopher Doucet, 68, was indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly falsely claiming U.S. citizenship to register to vote.

Doucet was born in Canada and immigrated to the United States as a child, becoming a lawful permanent resident. Lawful permanent residents are not allowed to vote in federal, state or local elections in Missouri. Doucet, knowing he was not a U.S, citizen, registered to vote in Jackson County, Missouri, on Jan. 30, 2024. On his voter registration card, Doucet answered "Yes" to the question that asked, "Are you a citizen of the United States of America?" He signed his name under the certification that read, "I hereby certify that I am a citizen of the United States." A warning on the bottom of the voter registration card advises that a conviction for making a false statement may result in a fine or imprisonment. On April 2, 2024, Doucet voted in a general municipal election in Independence, Missouri.

The charges contained in the indictment are simply accusations and are not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury that will be responsible for determining whether the defendant is guilty or not.

If convicted, Doucet is subject to a sentence of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The maximum statutory sentence is outlined by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes. The court will determine Doucet's sentence based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

This was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from USCIS and is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Missouri.

To report suspected immigration benefit fraud or abuse to USCIS, please use the USCIS Tip Form.

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