An illegal alien was sentenced in connection with her fraudulent assumption of a United States citizen’s identity and her use of that identity to vote in multiple elections in Alabama and obtain multiple United States passports.
According to U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona and U.S. State Department Diplomatic Security Service resident agent in Charge Joseph Wysowaty, U.S. District Judge Liles Burke sentenced Angelica Maria Francisco, 42, of Russellville, to 60 months in prison.
In September 2024, Francisco pleaded guilty to two counts of false claims of citizenship in connection with voting, one count of false statements in an application for a United States passport, five counts of use of a United States passport obtained by false statements and one count of aggravated identity theft.
“This sentence sends a clear message that any attempts by non-U.S. citizens to vote in the Northern District of Alabama are unacceptable and will result in serious consequences,” Escalona said. “Maintaining the sanctity of the U.S. election system is one of the most important responsibilities of federal law enforcement. My office will remain vigilant in carrying out this mission and, to that end, will continue to work with our federal, state, and local partners to investigate and prosecute individuals who seek to undermine our elections.”
According to the plea agreement, Francisco assumed the identity of a United States citizen in 2011. Francisco used the false identity to obtain a United States passport. She subsequently used the United States passport to travel to and from her native country of Guatemala in 2012, 2015, and 2018. Using the same false identity, Francisco also registered to vote in Alabama in 2016 and voted in the 2016 and 2020 primary and general elections. Francisco used the same false identity to apply for and receive a renewed passport in 2021, which she used to travel to and from Guatemala in 2022.
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