NEW BERN - Robert J. Higdon, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announces that PATRICIA FRANCO-RODRIGUEZ, age 28, of Mexico, residing in Johnston County, North Carolina, was sentenced to a $975 fine and $25 special assessment by United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan after a guilty plea to illegal voting by an alien.
According to court records, FRANCO-RODRIGUEZ, a Mexican citizen, is a lawful permanent resident in the United States and not a citizen of the United States. Thus, FRANCO-RODRIGUEZ is not permitted to vote for candidates for the office of President, Vice President, and House of Representatives. FRANCO-RODRIGUEZ registered to vote in North Carolina in 2016 by signing a voter registration application on which there was an attestation of United States citizenship.
FRANCO-RODRIGUEZ voted in the General Election of 2016. When questioned by Homeland Security agents, FRANCO-RODRIGUEZ admitted that she voted for all of the positions in the ballot.
The Document Fraud Benefit Task Force led by agents from Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation in this matter. The investigation as to voter fraud is ongoing.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
