The Department of Justice has filed federal charges against 28 defendants swept up in California’s largest-ever voter fraud enforcement action.
Federal agents arrested the suspects last Monday in coordinated raids across the state under a statewide takedown dubbed “Operation Protect the Vote,” according to prosecutors. The defendants, some of whom were legal permanent residents, face charges including false statements in naturalization applications and illegal voting.
Alexander Muñoz, 72, a Belizean national, was taken into custody around 6 a.m. At his City of Commerce home by Homeland Security Investigations agents. Prosecutors allege Muñoz fraudulently registered to vote in September 2019 by claiming he was a U.S. Citizen, then voted in the 2020 election, twice in 2022, and again in 2024. Court papers also say he lied on his naturalization application by falsely stating under oath that he had never claimed U.S. Citizenship. Muñoz, who has prior convictions for grand theft and narcotics possession, faces felony charges including making false statements in a naturalization application.
José Probitsado Amaro, 51, a citizen of the Philippines living in San Diego County’s National City, was also charged. Investigators say Amaro fraudulently registered to vote by falsely claiming U.S. Citizenship, cast a ballot in the November 2024 general election, and made false statements during his naturalization interview denying he had ever claimed U.S. Citizenship while misrepresenting his voting history.
Moe Thida Lwin, 57, a Myanmar national and resident of Daly City outside San Francisco, was accused of fraudulently registering to vote in 2024 and then illegally voting in a U.S. Election.
The California arrests were part of a broader nationwide operation in which 48 alleged noncitizens were charged. Suspects in Florida, New York, Nevada, and Pennsylvania face similar crimes.
The charges come amid an escalating confrontation between federal authorities and California over election integrity. The DOJ has demanded the state set aside more than 20,000 suspected noncitizen voters, but California officials argue the federal government has no right to intervene while the election is already underway. Three judges appeared sympathetic to the state’s position during a hearing Sunday but adjourned without ruling; the parties are scheduled to return to court Tuesday.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District Bill Essayli said the charges buttress the federal government’s claims of widespread voter fraud. Los Angeles’ top prosecutor has warned that upcoming midterm elections face serious risk of being “corrupted.”
The DOJ has also sent letters to every California county asking election officials to help identify noncitizen voters, and has sued California Secretary of State Shirley Weber and the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder over noncitizens on voter rolls.
Gov. Gavin Newsom blasted the DOJ’s efforts as a desperate “clown show” on Saturday. Essayli fired back on social media: “Hey Fraud King. We’re not waiting for them to vote. You’re not allowed to have any noncitizens on your voter rolls. ‘Period. Full stop.'”
