Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Voting in the 2020 Election and Lying to Obtain a U.S. Passport

DETROIT - Jose Gargenis Vasquez-Rosa, a citizen of the Dominican Republic who was illegally residing in the United States pleaded guilty today to illegally voting in the 2020 election, and to lying in an application for a United States passport, United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. announced.

Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Matthew Kupac, Resident Agent in Charge of the Diplomatic Security Service Detroit Resident Office.

Vasquez-Rosa pleaded guilty to three counts: (1) False statement in a United States passport application, (2) false statement of United States citizenship with the intent to obtain a federal benefit and (3) illegal voting by aliens.

In 2002, Vasquez-Rosa applied for a visa to come to the United States as the spouse of a United States citizen, but his application was denied because the relationship was found to be fraudulent. Then, in 2016, Vasquez-Rosa, who was illegally living in Michigan, assumed the identity of a Puerto Rican man. Using this fraudulent identity, Vasquez-Rosa applied for a Michigan driver’s license and at the same time was registered to vote. Utilizing this fraudulent identity, Vasquez-Rosa then voted in-person in the 2018 election, and voted again by absentee ballot in the 2020 election. Also in 2020, Vasquez-Rosa attempted to illegally obtain a United States passport by submitting a passport application using the same fraudulent identity. However, the fraudulent application was detected by the Department of State and no passport was issued.

United States Attorney Gorgon stated, “American citizens paid for the right to vote with their blood. This illegal alien lied to get into our country and stole that right. And we won’t let criminals undermine our elections.”

"The Diplomatic Security Service is committed to making sure that those who commit identity theft face consequences for their criminal actions,” said DSS Resident Agent in Charge Matthew Kupec. "DSS works closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners to investigate passport, visa fraud, and other transnational crimes. Deterring, detecting, and investigating U.S. passport and visa fraud is essential to protecting the integrity of U.S. borders and preventing illegal immigration.

Vasquez-Rosa faces a maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Susan Fairchild and Timothy P. McDonald. The investigation is being conducted by the Diplomatic Security Service Detroit Resident Office.