NewsWFLA News Channel 8October 23, 2026Hillsborough County
Department of Justice charges six Florida lawful permanent residents with illegal voting
Photo: WFLA News Channel 8
Six lawful permanent residents in Florida have been charged by the Department of Justice with illegally voting in the 2022 and 2024 elections. Three of the individuals also face additional charges for falsely claiming U.S. citizenship. If convicted, the suspects face prison terms ranging from one up to six years depending on the specific charges.
Read the full story at WFLA News Channel 8Why It Matters
Six non-citizen residents face federal criminal prosecution and potential prison sentences of up to five or six years for registering and casting ballots in recent federal elections.
Key Facts
- Six Florida residents who are lawful permanent residents have been charged with illegal voting by an alien.
- The suspects include individuals from Cuba, Canada, Ecuador, and Brazil.
- Three suspects — Jamie Orlando Sardina, Martha Haydee Desantis, and Lisa Marie Johnson — face an additional charge of falsely claiming U.S. citizenship.
- Sardina, Desantis, and Johnson face up to five years in prison for falsely claiming citizenship and one year for illegal voting if convicted on both counts.
- Perez, Curley, and Franco face a maximum of one year in prison for illegal voting by an alien.
- Jamie Orlando Sardina registered in 2022 and voted in the 2022 and 2024 federal general elections.
- Martha Haydee Desantis voted in the 2022 and 2024 elections.
- Lisa Marie Johnson registered to vote in 2021 and voted in the 2022 federal elections.
- Luis Manual Perez and Diane Wendy Curley voted in the 2022 and 2024 elections.
- Pedro Igor Franco voted in the 2024 election.
- The cases were investigated by Homeland Security, the Florida Department of State, and the Hernando County Supervisor of Elections.
Who's Mentioned
PersonDiane Wendy Curley“55-year-old from Canada charged with illegal voting”PersonLisa Marie Johnson“69-year-old from Canada charged with illegal voting and falsely claiming citizen”PersonMartha Haydee Desantis“81-year-old from Ecuador charged with illegal voting and falsely claiming citize”OrganizationFlorida Department of State“Investigated the cases”OrganizationHomeland Security“Investigated the cases”PersonLuis Manual Perez“72-year-old from Cuba charged with illegal voting”PersonJamie Orlando Sardina“60-year-old from Cuba charged with illegal voting and falsely claiming citizensh”PersonPedro Igor Franco“37-year-old from Brazil charged with illegal voting”OrganizationDepartment of Justice“Announced the charges against the six individuals”OrganizationHernando County Supervisor of Elections“Investigated the cases”