A 56-year-old Nigerian national, Gladys Adaeze Okafor, has been arrested and charged in federal court for allegedly voting illegally in U.S. elections after falsely claiming United States citizenship.

 

The announcement was made in a joint release issued by the U.S. Department of Justice on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, through United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in New England.

 

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### How the Alleged Fraud Occurred

 

According to official charging documents, Okafor—a native of Aba, Abia State, Nigeria, residing in Lynn, Massachusetts—obtained her Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card) status in December 2022. However, she is not a naturalized U.S. citizen and has never submitted an application for citizenship.

 

Federal prosecutors allege a pattern of false certifications on official voter forms:

 

* **July 2022 Registration:** Okafor submitted a voter registration card certifying under penalty of perjury that she was a U.S. citizen. The City of Lynn registered her, and she subsequently cast a ballot in the fall 2022 U.S. midterm elections.

* **October 2023 Registration:** She submitted a second voter registration form, again checking the "U.S. Citizen" box. She later voted in the 2024 presidential primary election.

 

Following her arrest on Wednesday morning, Okafor was scheduled for an initial appearance in federal court in Boston.

 

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### Penalties and Potential Deportation

 

The federal charge of unlawful voting by an alien carries significant legal consequences:

 

* **Imprisonment:** Up to one year in federal prison.

* **Fines & Oversight:** Up to $100,000 in fines and one year of supervised release.

* **Deportation Risk:** Upon completion of any court-imposed sentence, Okafor may face immediate immigration removal proceedings and deportation to Nigeria.

 

The case is currently being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julissa Walsh of the Major Crimes Unit.