Honduran national arrested in California for alleged voter fraud

A Honduran national, Darwin Jonathan Rivera Flores, has been arrested in the San Fernando Valley on federal charges of fraudulent voter registration and making a false claim to U.S. citizenship. Rivera Flores, a 30-year-old lawful permanent resident, allegedly submitted an online voter registration record in the name of ‘Darwin Rivera’ associated with his Winnetka address.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli stated that this arrest is the first in what is intended to be a broader crackdown on election fraud in California. Officials expressed concern regarding the ease with which non-citizens may register to vote and receive mail-in ballots in the state. Essayli renewed requests for California to comply with audits of voter rolls to ensure election confidence.

Prosecutors noted that while Rivera Flores allegedly registered to vote, he has not yet cast a ballot in an election. The arrest follows a previous incident in February where Rivera Flores was cited for disrupting immigration law enforcement operations at a federal building.