A 56-year-old Nigerian woman living in Lynn, Massachusetts, has been arrested in the United States over allegations that she unlawfully registered and voted in American elections despite not being a US citizen.

The woman, identified as Gladys Adaeze Okafor, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with unlawfully voting as an alien, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.

Federal authorities allege that Okafor participated in the 2022 midterm elections and later voted in the 2024 presidential primary election, despite her citizenship status.

Alleged Voter Registration

According to the charging documents, Okafor is a Nigerian citizen who was born in Aba, Nigeria. Authorities said she became a lawful permanent resident of the United States in December 2022 but had not become a US citizen or applied for citizenship.

Prosecutors allege that in July 2022, Okafor completed a voter registration form in which she certified that she was a US citizen. The City of Lynn subsequently registered her as a voter.

Authorities further allege that she voted in the midterm elections later that year.

The federal government also accused Okafor of submitting another voter registration form in October 2023, again indicating that she was a US citizen.

Prosecutors said she subsequently voted in the 2024 presidential primary.

Possible Penalties

The federal charge carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of as much as $100,000, according to the US Attorney’s Office.

Authorities also stated that Okafor could face deportation after serving any sentence imposed by the court.

The case was announced by US Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England. Assistant US Attorney Julissa Walsh of the Major Crimes Unit is handling the prosecution.

The case comes amid the activities of the District of Massachusetts’ Benefit & Voter Fraud Team, established in March 2026 to investigate alleged fraud-related offences.

The US Department of Justice also announced the creation of a National Fraud Enforcement Division in April 2026.

Defendant Presumed Innocent

The US Attorney’s Office stressed that the accusations against Okafor remain allegations contained in a charging document.

She is presumed innocent unless and until prosecutors establish her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in court.