Nigerian woman, Okafor, who was born in Aba, Abia State, allegedly voted in the 2022 midterm elections and the 2024 presidential primary election, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
Okafor was arrested on Wednesday and charged with unlawfully voting as an alien. She was expected to appear before a federal court in Boston later in the day.
The US Attorney’s Office said Okafor obtained lawful permanent resident status in December 2022 but was not a US citizen and had not applied for citizenship.
According to the charging documents, however, the alleged offences began before she obtained her permanent resident status.
The statement said, “In July 2022, Okafor allegedly submitted a voter registration card, signing her name under a certification which provided ‘I am a citizen of the United States … Signed under penalty of perjury.’ The City of Lynn subsequently registered her to vote, and Okafor allegedly voted in the midterm elections that fall.”
The authorities further alleged that she submitted another voter registration form in October 2023, declared herself a US citizen, and subsequently voted in the 2024 presidential primary election.
The statement said, “It is further alleged that Okafor submitted a second voter registration form in October of 2023, checking the ‘U.S. Citizen’ box and signing under the US citizen certification. Okafor allegedly voted in the 2024 presidential primary election.”
The charge carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison, one year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $100,000. The US Attorney’s Office also said Okafor could face deportation after serving any sentence imposed.
It said, “The charge of unlawful voting as an alien provides for a sentence of up to one year in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of $100,000. The defendant may be subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed.”
Any sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge based on US sentencing guidelines and relevant federal statutes.
The case was announced by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England.
Assistant US Attorney Julissa Walsh of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The prosecution is also linked to the Benefit & Voter Fraud Team established by Foley in March 2026 to investigate alleged fraud in Massachusetts.
The US Department of Justice subsequently announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division in April 2026 to investigate and prosecute fraud against Americans.
The US Attorney’s Office, however, stressed that the allegations against Okafor have not been established in court.
It stated, “The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”
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