From Tribune staff reports
BIRMINGHAM — An undocumented immigrant has been charged in connection with her fraudulent assumption of a United States citizen’s identity and her use of that identity to vote in multiple elections and obtain multiple United States passports, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Resident Agent in Charge Joseph R. Wysowaty of the U.S. State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Atlanta Resident Office.
A nine-count information filed in U.S. District Court charges Angelica Maria Francisco, 42, most recently of Russellville, with false claims of citizenship in connection with voting, false statements in application for a United States passport, use of a United States passport obtained by false statements, and aggravated identity theft, according to a statement released Thursday. A plea agreement was filed with the information, indicating that Francisco has agreed to plead guilty to all of the charges.
According to the information and plea agreement, Francisco assumed the identity of a United States citizen in or around 2011. Francisco used the false identity to obtain a United States passport in 2011. 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, prosecutors said, Francisco also registered to vote in Alabama in 2016 and voted in the 2016 and 2020 primary and general elections. And in 2021, Francisco used the same false identity to apply for and receive a renewed passport, which she used to travel to and from Guatemala in 2022.
Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen, who first called attention to illegal immigrants receiving voter registration forms through federal agencies in Alabama, also weighed in on the charges.
“I’ve been very clear that a top priority of this office is ensuring only eligible American citizens are voting in AL elections,” Allen said. “I want to thank the U.S. State Dept & the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of AL for their diligent efforts in investigating and charging this individual. We will continue to assist law enforcement in every way possible as they prosecute individuals who vote illegally in our elections to the fullest extent of the law.”
The court will set a date for Francisco to enter her guilty plea.
DSS investigated the case, with assistance from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the East Metro Area Crime Center, and the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett A. Janich is prosecuting the case.
An information contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
