BurfordTJustice
2018-05-15 17:36:05 UTC
Mexican woman charged with voter fraud, accused of illegally voting in 2016
election
A Mexican woman has been charged in Texas with voter fraud after prosecutors
said she illegally voted in the 2016 presidential election.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said his office will prosecute Laura
Janeth Garza, a 37-year-old Mexican national who lives in Houston, after a
grand jury indicted her May 10 on charges of voter impersonation and
ineligible voting.
Both charges are second-degree felonies. If convicted, Garza faces two to 20
years in prison and a $10,000 fine, according to Fox 4 News in Dallas-Ft.
Worth.
"This case demonstrates my office's commitment to protecting the integrity
of elections," Paxton said in a statement. "We will continue to do
everything in our power to safeguard the electoral process in Texas."
According to the attorney general's office, Garza is accused of voting
illegally in Harris County in November 2016, as well as in elections in 2004
and 2012.
Paxton said a joint investigation with the Texas Department of Public Safety
determined that Garza obtained documents to steal the identity of a U.S.
citizen and illegally register to vote.
Law enforcement became aware of Garza after a U.S. citizen attempted to
obtain a passport, but discovered Garza had already done so using her
identity, Paxton said. The State Department referred Garza's case to Texas
Department of Public Safety, which then handed it over to Paxton's office
for prosecution.
President Trump has long claimed widespread voting fraud took place in the
2016 election, an assertion that has not been substantiated.
"It's not a conspiracy theory, folks," Trump said at an event in West
Virginia last month, claiming millions voted illegally in 2016.
election
A Mexican woman has been charged in Texas with voter fraud after prosecutors
said she illegally voted in the 2016 presidential election.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said his office will prosecute Laura
Janeth Garza, a 37-year-old Mexican national who lives in Houston, after a
grand jury indicted her May 10 on charges of voter impersonation and
ineligible voting.
Both charges are second-degree felonies. If convicted, Garza faces two to 20
years in prison and a $10,000 fine, according to Fox 4 News in Dallas-Ft.
Worth.
"This case demonstrates my office's commitment to protecting the integrity
of elections," Paxton said in a statement. "We will continue to do
everything in our power to safeguard the electoral process in Texas."
According to the attorney general's office, Garza is accused of voting
illegally in Harris County in November 2016, as well as in elections in 2004
and 2012.
Paxton said a joint investigation with the Texas Department of Public Safety
determined that Garza obtained documents to steal the identity of a U.S.
citizen and illegally register to vote.
Law enforcement became aware of Garza after a U.S. citizen attempted to
obtain a passport, but discovered Garza had already done so using her
identity, Paxton said. The State Department referred Garza's case to Texas
Department of Public Safety, which then handed it over to Paxton's office
for prosecution.
President Trump has long claimed widespread voting fraud took place in the
2016 election, an assertion that has not been substantiated.
"It's not a conspiracy theory, folks," Trump said at an event in West
Virginia last month, claiming millions voted illegally in 2016.