Fraudulent Voting New Jersey: Two Indicted for Election Fraud

*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id="request-699e80c2-461c-832e-b57d-b4e3b2095499-4" data-testid="conversation-turn-30" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn="assistant"> Federal authorities have indicted two Pakistani nationals in New Jersey on charges related to unlawful participation in a federal election and alleged false statements during the naturalization process.

The announcement was made by the United States Attorney's Office , with investigative support from the Federal Bureau of Investigation , Homeland Security Investigations , and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Allegations in the Case According to the indictment, Muhammad Muzammal, 37, and Muhammad Shakeel, 62, allegedly registered to vote in New Jersey despite not being U.S. citizens. Prosecutors claim the men falsely affirmed U.S. citizenship on voter registration forms and later cast ballots in the November 2020 general election, which included presidential and vice presidential races.

Under U.S. law, participation in federal elections is limited to U.S. citizens.

Naturalization Applications Under Scrutiny The indictment further alleges that after voting, both individuals submitted Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization) to USCIS. On these applications, candidates must certify under penalty of perjury that all provided information is truthful and complete.

Prosecutors allege that both defendants stated they had never registered to vote or voted in any federal, state, or local election. During subsequent interviews with USCIS officers conducted under oath, they allegedly repeated those denials.

Legal Status of the Case The charges remain allegations at this stage. As with all criminal proceedings in the United States, the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

If convicted on the charged offenses, the individuals could face penalties of up to ten years in prison.

Reporting Immigration Fraud USCIS encourages members of the public who suspect immigration benefit fraud or abuse to report concerns through its official tip reporting system. For official program information and updates, individuals should consult the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website.

This case underscores the legal requirement that only U.S. citizens may participate in federal elections and highlights the consequences of providing false information in immigration applications.