A Guatemalan woman in the U.S. illegally has been sentenced to federal prison for using fake documentation to vote in at least four elections in Alabama since 2016.
Angelica Maria Francisco, 42, most recently of Russellville, pleaded guilty in September to two counts of false claims of citizenship in connection with voting, one count of false statements in application for a U.S. passport, five counts of use of a U.S. passport obtained by false statements, and one count of aggravated identity theft.
U.S. District Judge Liles C. Burke sentenced Francisco to five years in prison, according to a Thursday announcement by Northern District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona and U.S. State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service in Atlanta Resident Agent in Charge Joseph R. Wysowaty.
Francisco has been in the U.S. since 2008. She assumed the identity of a woman identified in court documents only as “P.J.” and used her date of birth, social security number, birth certificate other identifying documents to apply for a U.S. passport on July 12, 2011.
She subsequently used the passport to travel to and from her native country of Guatemala in 2012, 2015, and 2018.
Using the same false identity, authorities said, Francisco also registered to vote in Alabama in February 2016 and voted in the 2016 and 2020 primary and general elections.
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.
“This sentence sends a clear message that any attempts by non-U.S. citizens to vote in the Northern District of Alabama are unacceptable and will result in serious consequences,” Escalona said.
“Maintaining the sanctity of the U.S. election system is one of the most important responsibilities of federal law enforcement,’’ Escalona said.
The case was investigated by the U.S. State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service 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 prosecuted.
