WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
  • A federal grand jury indicted 10 lawful permanent residents accused of illegal voter registration or false statements concerning citizenship and voting.
  • The indictments are part of “Operation Protect the Vote,” a coordinated federal election integrity effort in California.
  • Several defendants allegedly cast unlawful ballots in elections held during 2020, 2022, and 2024.
  • Each defendant faces a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison if convicted, while two are identified as fugitives.

A federal grand jury returned indictments against 10 noncitizens living in Los Angeles and Orange counties, accusing them of illegally registering to vote in California or making false statements connected to citizenship and voting. All 10 defendants are lawful permanent residents, commonly known as green card holders, as reported by Townhall.

Lawful permanent residents are not U.S. citizens and cannot legally register to vote or cast ballots in U.S. elections. The defendants were previously charged through a federal criminal complaint last month.

The indictments are part of “Operation Protect the Vote,” an ongoing and coordinated federal effort in California focused on rooting out election fraud and protecting electoral integrity. Nine defendants are charged with making false statements on naturalization forms, while another is charged with falsely claiming U.S. citizenship to register to vote.

The charges remain allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. If convicted, each defendant would face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison.

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Omar Alexander Muñoz, 72, is a Belizean national living in Commerce. Prosecutors allege he fraudulently registered to vote in September 2019 by falsely claiming he was a U.S. citizen, then illegally voted in 2020, twice in 2022, and again in 2024.

Muñoz allegedly stated under oath on his naturalization application that he had never claimed U.S. citizenship and had never registered to vote in a U.S. election. His arraignment is scheduled for November 16.

Muhammad Khan, 50, is a Pakistani national and Anaheim resident who allegedly submitted a provisional ballot in 2020 that falsely claimed he was a U.S. citizen. Five years later, he allegedly denied doing so on his naturalization paperwork, and his arraignment is scheduled for November 16.

Ana Domínguez, 60, is a Salvadoran national living in Long Beach. She allegedly registered to vote fraudulently in July 2006 and falsely stated in her March 2026 naturalization paperwork that she had never done so, with arraignment scheduled for November 16.

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José Antonio Bañuelos-Díaz, 42, is a Mexican national and West Adams resident. He allegedly registered to vote illegally in 2007 by falsely claiming U.S. citizenship, then denied that conduct on naturalization paperwork submitted in March 2025. His arraignment is scheduled for November 16.

Jesús Narez-Madrigal, 52, is a Mexican national living in Carson who allegedly registered fraudulently in 2014 by claiming U.S. citizenship. Prosecutors also accuse him of voting illegally in the 2024 U.S. general election and making false statements in naturalization paperwork filed in June 2024. His arraignment is scheduled for November 17.

Carlos Antonio Galeas, 54, is a Honduran national and West Covina resident. He allegedly registered to vote in 2012 and 2016 by falsely claiming U.S. citizenship, then made false statements about that conduct in naturalization paperwork submitted in September 2018. His arraignment is scheduled for November 17.

Flavio Alejandro Zúñiga, 43, is described as a Mexican national and La Puente resident. He allegedly registered illegally in 2003 by falsely claiming U.S. citizenship and denied doing so on naturalization paperwork submitted in February 2026. His arraignment is scheduled for November 17.

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Amandeep Kaur, 30, is an Indian national living in Rancho Palos Verdes. She allegedly registered illegally in December 2022 and voted unlawfully in the November 2024 U.S. election, then denied claiming U.S. citizenship or registering to vote on her naturalization application. Her arraignment is scheduled for November 20.

Axel Giovani Prera García, 46, is a Guatemalan national and Pico Rivera resident. He allegedly registered to vote fraudulently in 2002 and 2005 and made false statements about those registrations in naturalization paperwork submitted in June 2025. He is identified as a fugitive.

Ernesto Gutiérrez Ruvalcaba, 57, is a Mexican national living in Wilmington. He allegedly registered to vote illegally in February 2024 by falsely claiming U.S. citizenship and then voted unlawfully one month later. He also is identified as a fugitive.

Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the cases. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Wheat and Minjae Kim of the Orange County Office are prosecuting the matters.

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