Markenzy Lapointe U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida
Carlos Jose Abreu, a 45-year-old illegal alien residing in Broward County, Florida, appeared in federal court on charges of impersonating a United States citizen for voter registration and voting in a federal election. Abreu is also facing charges related to unlawful firearm possession.
Previously indicted for passport application fraud and aggravated identity theft under case number 24-cr-60155, Abreu pled guilty to passport fraud on January 8, 2025.
Court documents and proceedings allege that Abreu is a Dominican Republic national who entered the U.S. illegally approximately 20 years ago. In 2007, New Jersey issued an arrest warrant for him on charges including kidnapping and sexual assault. He subsequently relocated to Florida, assuming the identity of an American citizen to obtain a driver's license and apply for a passport. He has reportedly lived under this assumed identity for around 18 years.
The recent indictment (case no. 25-cr-60015) claims that Abreu used this false identity to register to vote in September 2020 and participated in the November 2022 federal midterm elections. Additionally, he allegedly possessed a firearm illegally—a federal offense for illegal aliens in the U.S. If convicted of these charges, Abreu could face up to 15 years in federal prison and deportation.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Conklin from the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Miami Field Office.
The DSS Miami Field Office conducted the investigation with Assistant United States Attorney Brianna Coakley handling prosecution duties.
It is important to note that an indictment is only an accusation; defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
For more information or related court documents, visit the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
