Nigerian national arrested in Massachusetts for alleged illegal voting

Gladys Adaeze Okafor, a 56-year-old Nigerian national residing in Lynn, Massachusetts, has been arrested and charged by federal authorities for allegedly voting illegally in two U.S. elections.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, Okafor obtained lawful permanent resident status in December 2022 but is not a U.S. citizen and has not applied for citizenship. Prosecutors allege that she submitted a voter registration form in July 2022, certifying under penalty of perjury that she was a U.S. citizen, and subsequently cast a ballot in the 2022 midterm elections. She is also accused of submitting another registration form in October 2023, again claiming citizenship, and voting in the 2024 presidential primary election.

The charge of unlawfully voting as an alien carries a maximum penalty of one year in federal prison, one year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $100,000. Additionally, Okafor could face deportation following the completion of any imposed sentence.