Akeel Abdul Jamiel, a 45-year-old former resident of South Glens Falls, New York, has been charged with illegally voting in the 2020 election. The announcement was made by United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III, Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The allegations, filed in federal court, claim that Jamiel, an Iraqi national who is not a United States citizen, voted in Saratoga County, New York during the November 2020 election. The charge remains an accusation and Jamiel is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
“As alleged, Jamiel’s voting in the 2020 election was a callous and illegal act. We will continue to investigate and prosecute illegal schemes aimed at corrupting the election process," stated United States Attorney Sarcone.
Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli emphasized the importance of maintaining election integrity, stating, "Election security is and will continue to be one of the FBI’s highest national security priorities. Americans have a right to expect free and fair elections and the FBI is committed to working with our partners to seek justice for anyone trying to interfere with the democratic process."
Erin Keegan of HSI also commented on the charges, noting, "This defendant’s alleged crimes are an insult to the democratic process and demonstrate his blatant disregard for the sanctity of American constitutional rights. I commend HSI Albany and our law-enforcement partners for their success in this unified effort."
If convicted, the charge against Jamiel entails a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000. Sentencing will be determined by a judge according to the statute violated, U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other relevant factors.
