Colombian national sentenced to prison for 20 years of voter fraud

Carlos Felipe Jaramillo-Grajales, a Colombian national, has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for identity theft and voter fraud. Investigations by Homeland Security Investigations and other federal agencies revealed that Jaramillo-Grajales used the name, date of birth, and Social Security number of a U.S. citizen to obtain a Florida driver’s license in March 2003.

Using these fraudulent documents, he obtained a U.S. passport and registered to vote by falsely claiming he was a citizen born in Puerto Rico. He successfully participated in multiple elections over a period of approximately 20 years, including the 2020 general election. The investigation noted that he managed to renew his driver’s license as recently as February 2024 and his passport in 2023.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated that election security is a matter of national security. The case is part of a broader effort by federal agencies to prevent illegal immigrants from using fabricated information to vote or obtain government benefits.