Ada Ngozi Otuka faces up to five years in prison for illegal voting in U.S. elections

Ada Ngozi Otuka, a 63‑year‑old foreign national residing in Katy, Texas, pleaded guilty to voting illegally in the 2012, 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2024 U.S. federal elections and to falsely claiming U.S. citizenship on her Texas voter registration. Otuka, though a lawful permanent resident, is barred from voting. She also filed a naturalization application in 2025 acknowledging the illegal votes. Federal prosecutors have set sentencing for November 5, where U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett may impose up to five years in prison for illegal voting, an additional year for the false‑citizenship charge, and a fine of up to $250,000.

A separate case involves Samuel James Hall, a British citizen living in Houston, who also pleaded guilty to illegal voting in the 2024 election. Both investigations were conducted by the FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations unit, the Texas Attorney General’s Office, and with assistance from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Studies indicate that illegal voting by non‑citizens remains extremely rare, accounting for a minute fraction of total ballots cast.