10 non-citizens indicted by grand jury on voter fraud charges
SANTA ANA, Calif. (KESQ) - Ten non-citizens living in Los Angeles and Orange counties suspected of illegally registering to vote by falsely claiming to be U.S. citizens were indicted today by a federal grand jury in Santa Ana.
The defendants, all lawful permanent residents, commonly known as green card holders, were charged as part of ''Operation Protect the Vote,'' an ongoing federal effort to investigate alleged election fraud in California, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California.
Nine of the defendants are accused of making false statements on their naturalization applications by denying they had previously claimed to be U.S. citizens or registered to vote in U.S. elections.
The U.S. Attorney's Office said the 10 individuals had faced federal criminal complaints before the indictments were returned. As lawful permanent residents, they are not eligible to register to vote or cast ballots in U.S. elections.
-- Omar Alexander Muñoz, 72, a Belizean national living in Commerce, allegedly registered to vote in September 2019, falsely declaring U.S. citizenship. He subsequently voted in the 2020 general election, twice in 2022 and again in 2024. Prosecutors allege he later denied claiming U.S. citizenship
or registering to vote on his naturalization application. His arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 16.
-- Muhammad Khan, 50, a Pakistani national living in Anaheim,
allegedly submitted a provisional ballot in 2020 while falsely claiming to be a
U.S. citizen. Five years later, on his naturalization paperwork, he allegedly
denied having done so. His arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 16.
-- Ana Domínguez, 60, a Salvadoran national living in Long Beach, allegedly registered to vote in July 2006 and later falsely denied doing so on her naturalization paperwork in March 2026. Her arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 16.
-- José Antonio Bañuelos-Díaz, 42, a Mexican national living in West Adams, allegedly registered to vote in 2007 by falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen. Prosecutors allege he later denied doing so on his naturalization paperwork in March 2025. His arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 16.
-- Jesús Narez-Madrigal, 52, a Mexican national living in Carson, allegedly registered to vote in 2014, falsely declaring U.S. citizenship, and subsequently voted in the 2024 general election. He allegedly made false statements about his voting history on his June 2024 naturalization application. His arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 17.
-- Carlos Antonio Galeas, 54, a Honduran national living in West Covina, allegedly registered to vote in 2012 and 2016, falsely declaring U.S. citizenship. He later allegedly denied the registrations on his September 2018 naturalization application. His arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 17.
-- Flavio Alejandro Zúñiga, 43, a Mexican national living in La Puente, allegedly registered to vote in 2003 by falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen. Prosecutors allege he later denied doing so on his naturalization paperwork in February 2026. His arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 17.
-- Amandeep Kaur, 30, an Indian national living in Rancho Palos Verdes, allegedly registered to vote in December 2022 and subsequently voted in the November 2024 election. Prosecutors allege she later denied ever claiming to be a U.S. citizen or registering to vote on her naturalization application. Her arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 20.
-- Ernesto Gutiérrez Ruvalcaba, 57, a Mexican national living in Wilmington, is accused of falsely claiming U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in February 2024. He allegedly cast a ballot the following month and is a fugitive.
If convicted, each defendant could face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison.
