An illegal immigrant residing in Alabama has agreed to plead guilty to multiple federal charges, including identity theft, fraudulent use of a U.S. passport, and illegal voting in state elections.
Fox News reported that Angelica Maria Francisco, 42, has been charged with a nine-count information filed in federal court. U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Joseph R. Wysowaty, a Resident Agent in Charge, made the announcement on Thursday.
Francisco, a resident of Russellville, Alabama, assumed the identity of a U.S. citizen around 2011 to fraudulently obtain a U.S. passport and vote in multiple elections.
According to court documents, Francisco used a stolen identity to apply for and receive a U.S. passport in 2011.
She later traveled to and from Guatemala using this passport in 2012, 2015, and 2018. Francisco also used the fraudulent identity to register to vote in Alabama, participating in both the 2016 and 2020 primary and general elections.
By 2021, Francisco applied for and received a renewed passport under the same stolen identity. The renewed passport allowed her to travel again to Guatemala in 2022. The charges against her include false statements on passport applications and aggravated identity theft, among other violations.
The investigation into Francisco’s actions was carried out by the State Department's Diplomatic Security Service, with assistance from local and state agencies.
These agencies included the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the East Metro Area Crime Center, and the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office.
The investigation revealed the extent of Francisco’s illegal activities, leading to the nine-count information being filed in federal court. She has agreed to plead guilty to all nine charges, which range from false claims of citizenship to aggravated identity theft.
The case has attracted significant attention due to the involvement of voter fraud, a sensitive issue in Alabama. Francisco’s fraudulent voting in two election cycles has raised concerns about the integrity of the state’s election system.
Secretary of State Wes Allen emphasized his office's commitment to ensuring that only eligible American citizens are able to vote in Alabama elections.
"I have been very clear that a top priority of this office is ensuring only eligible American citizens are voting in Alabama elections," Allen said in a statement following the announcement.
Secretary Allen expressed his gratitude to federal and state agencies for their diligence in investigating the case. He also reaffirmed his office’s commitment to assisting law enforcement in prosecuting individuals who attempt to illegally vote in Alabama elections.
"I want to thank the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Northern District of Alabama for their diligent efforts investigating and charging this individual," Allen stated. "We will continue to assist law enforcement in every way possible as they prosecute individuals who vote illegally in Alabama elections to the fullest extent of the law."
The illegal voting charges against Francisco stem from her use of the stolen identity to register and vote in both the 2016 and 2020 elections. These elections included both primary and general contests. Francisco falsely claimed U.S. citizenship in order to participate in these elections, actions that violated federal election laws.
The case has raised broader concerns about how illegal immigrants might exploit gaps in the system to gain access to privileges meant for U.S. citizens.
In this case, the stolen identity allowed Francisco to travel freely and vote in important elections, actions that could have remained undetected without the joint investigation.
This case also highlights ongoing debates over immigration and voter fraud. Federal and state officials have emphasized the need for stringent enforcement of laws designed to prevent non-citizens from voting in U.S. elections.
As federal prosecutors move forward with Francisco’s case, attention is likely to remain on how these issues are handled in future cases.
Francisco’s illegal actions spanned more than a decade, starting from her first use of the stolen identity to obtain a U.S. passport in 2011. Her ability to travel internationally, register to vote, and cast ballots in multiple elections has drawn scrutiny from both legal authorities and the public.
