A 56-year-old Nigerian woman living in Lynn, Massachusetts, Gladys Adaeze Okafor, has been arrested. She is facing charges for allegedly voting illegally in the 2022 midterm elections.
The woman is also accused of voting in the 2024 presidential primary election even though she is not a United States citizen.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts shared this information in a statement on Wednesday.
The statement said, "BOSTON, A Nigerian national residing in Lynn, Mass. has been arrested and charged with illegally voting in the 2022 midterm elections. Defendant also allegedly voted in the 2024 Presidential primary election."
The statement confirmed that Okafor was charged with unlawfully voting as an alien. She was arrested on Wednesday morning and is expected to appear in federal court in Boston later that same day.
It said, "Gladys Adaeze Okafor, 56, is charged with unlawfully voting as an alien. The defendant was arrested this morning and will appear in federal court in Boston later today."
According to the charging documents, Okafor is a Nigerian citizen born in Aba, Nigeria. The documents also state that she got lawful permanent resident status in December 2022, but she is not a US citizen and has not applied for US citizenship.
The US Attorney’s Office mentioned that the alleged voting offences started before Okafor got her permanent resident status.
It said, "In July 2022, Okafor allegedly submitted a voter registration card, signing her name under a certification which provided ‘I am a citizen of the United States … Signed under penalty of perjury.’ The City of Lynn subsequently registered her to vote, and Okafor allegedly voted in the midterm elections that fall."
The authorities also claimed that Okafor registered to vote again in 2023, declaring herself a US citizen on the form.
The statement added, "It is further alleged that Okafor submitted a second voter registration form in October of 2023, checking the ‘U.S. Citizen’ box and signing under the US citizen certification. Okafor allegedly voted in the 2024 presidential primary election."
The charge of unlawful voting as an alien can lead to a maximum sentence of one year in prison, one year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $100,000.
The statement said, "The charge of unlawful voting as an alien provides for a sentence of up to one year in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of $100,000. The defendant may be subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed."
It also mentioned that any sentence would be decided by a federal district court judge based on the US Sentencing Guidelines and laws related to federal criminal cases.
The case was announced by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England.
Assistant US Attorney Julissa Walsh from the Major Crimes Unit is handling the case.
The statement also connected this case to the district’s new Benefit & Voter Fraud Team, which was introduced by Foley in March 2026.
It said, "On March 26, 2026, United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the creation of the Benefit & Voter Fraud Team, a district-wide initiative established in response to the rampant fraud being uncovered across Massachusetts."
The US Department of Justice later announced the formation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division in April 2026 to look into and prosecute fraud against Americans.
The statement said, "On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people."
The office also emphasized that the claims in the charging document have not been proven in court.
It stated, "The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law."
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