Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Mexican Man Sentenced for Voter Fraud in U.S. Elections
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 6 years ago on
December 11, 2019

Share

SACRAMENTO — A Mexican national who assumed an American’s identity to vote in five federal elections was sentenced Tuesday to 3 years, 9 months in prison in a federal courtroom in Sacramento.
Gustavo Araujo Lerma, 64, was convicted by a jury in August of aggravated identity theft, making a false statement on a passport application and five counts of voting by an alien in federal elections.

“Today’s sentence serves to protect the public’s confidence in the immigration system, passport security, and federal elections and will deter others from perpetrating this type of fraud.” U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott
Lerma insisted he is an American named Hiram Enrique Velez. Prosecutors said Lerma was born in Mexico in 1955 and later purchased a birth certificate and Social Security card with that name in 1992. They said he voted illegally for the past 20 years.
His defense argued there is no proof that Lerma is a Mexican citizen. He testified that he was found as a 5-year-old on the streets of San Antonio, Texas, and did not know when or where he was born.
Lerma also testified that he supports President Donald Trump and donated to the Republican Party.
Prosecutors presented evidence that Araujo Lerma was born in Leon, Mexico, in 1955 and used a fraudulent passport to fly back and forth to his hometown. He also lied on immigration applications to obtain legal permanent resident status and eventually United States citizenship for his wife and two children, U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott said.
“Today’s sentence serves to protect the public’s confidence in the immigration system, passport security, and federal elections and will deter others from perpetrating this type of fraud,” Scott said.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Advisory Warns of ‘Heightened Threat Environment’ in US After Iran Strikes

DON'T MISS

Muslim Countries to Set up Contact Group to Seek Israel-Iran De-Escalation

DON'T MISS

Visalia Police Seek Public’s Help in Sexual Assault Investigation

DON'T MISS

Despite Clashes With US Presidents, Israel’s Netanyahu Usually Gets His Way

DON'T MISS

Pope Leo Urges International Diplomacy to Prevent ‘Irreparable Abyss’

DON'T MISS

Oil to Open Higher as US Strikes on Iran Boost Supply Risk Premium

DON'T MISS

US Strikes Against Iran Not Aimed at Regime Change, Pentagon Chief Says

DON'T MISS

US Bombing of Iran Started With a Fake-Out

DON'T MISS

Pakistan Condemns Trump’s Bombing of Iran a Day After Nominating Him for Peace Prize

DON'T MISS

World Awaits Iran’s Response After Trump Says US ‘Obliterates’ Nuclear Sites

UP NEXT

Vance, in Los Angeles, Says Troops Need to Stay, Blasts Newsom Over Immigration

UP NEXT

Amazon’s Prime Day 2025 Levels Up With Four Days of Deals Starting July 8

UP NEXT

Voice of America Parent Terminates Over 600 More Staff in Likely Death Knell

UP NEXT

Ninth Circuit Strikes Down CA’s ‘One-Gun-Per-Month’ Law

UP NEXT

Police, DA Refuse to Release Records on Latina Senator’s DUI Arrest Near Capitol

UP NEXT

US Supreme Court Lets Fuel Producers Challenge California Emissions Standards

UP NEXT

US Court Lets Trump Keep Control of California National Guard for Now

UP NEXT

Massive Security Breach: 16 Billion Passwords Leaked From Apple, Google, Facebook Accounts

UP NEXT

Hunger Strike Begins as California Prisons Hand Down Biggest Restrictions Since COVID

UP NEXT

CA Prison Union Strikes $600 Million Contract With Newsom That Includes Furloughs

Despite Clashes With US Presidents, Israel’s Netanyahu Usually Gets His Way

12 hours ago

Pope Leo Urges International Diplomacy to Prevent ‘Irreparable Abyss’

12 hours ago

Oil to Open Higher as US Strikes on Iran Boost Supply Risk Premium

12 hours ago

US Strikes Against Iran Not Aimed at Regime Change, Pentagon Chief Says

12 hours ago

US Bombing of Iran Started With a Fake-Out

12 hours ago

Pakistan Condemns Trump’s Bombing of Iran a Day After Nominating Him for Peace Prize

12 hours ago

World Awaits Iran’s Response After Trump Says US ‘Obliterates’ Nuclear Sites

12 hours ago

Mariska Hargitay Comes to Terms With a Lifetime of Family Secrets

13 hours ago

Mysterious Ancient Humans Now Have a Face

13 hours ago

World Leaders React to US Attack on Iran

1 day ago

Advisory Warns of ‘Heightened Threat Environment’ in US After Iran Strikes

WASHINGTON  -An advisory from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security warned on Sunday of a “heightened threat environment in the Uni...

11 hours ago

A "No war on Iran" banner is held as people attend an anti-war demonstration in Los Angeles, California, U.S., June 21, 2025. (Reuters File)
11 hours ago

Advisory Warns of ‘Heightened Threat Environment’ in US After Iran Strikes

Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan meets with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as they are flanked by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and members of Turkish and Iranian delegations, during the 51st Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), in Istanbul, Turkey, June 21, 2025. (Reuters File)
12 hours ago

Muslim Countries to Set up Contact Group to Seek Israel-Iran De-Escalation

12 hours ago

Visalia Police Seek Public’s Help in Sexual Assault Investigation

President Donald Trump speaks as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu waves following a meeting in the White House, in Washington, U.S., April 7, 2025. (Reuters/Kevin Mohatt)
12 hours ago

Despite Clashes With US Presidents, Israel’s Netanyahu Usually Gets His Way

Pope Leo XIV holds a Jubilee audience on the occasion of the Jubilee of Sport, at St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican June 14, 2025. (Reuters File)
12 hours ago

Pope Leo Urges International Diplomacy to Prevent ‘Irreparable Abyss’

An oil tanker is being loaded at Saudi Aramco's Ras Tanura oil refinery and oil terminal in Saudi Arabia May 21, 2018. (Reuters File)
12 hours ago

Oil to Open Higher as US Strikes on Iran Boost Supply Risk Premium

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth holds a briefing at the Pentagon, after the U.S. struck Iranian nuclear facilities, during the Israel-Iran conflict, in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., June 22, 2025 in this still image taken from handout video. Reuters TV/U.S. Department of Defense/Handout via REUTERS
12 hours ago

US Strikes Against Iran Not Aimed at Regime Change, Pentagon Chief Says

A satellite view shows an overview of Fordow underground complex, after the U.S. struck the underground nuclear facility, near Qom, Iran June 22, 2025. MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES/Handout via REUTERS
12 hours ago

US Bombing of Iran Started With a Fake-Out

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend