Seven Charged in Texas for Noncitizen Voting Violations

WHO:

Texas Tribune - Seven individuals charged include Carlos Salas Barrios, Joshua Nmelichukwu Akpom, Helen Mayen Adams, Khalwinder Singh Bhengura, Moises Anwar Arellano-Alba, Celestin Katubadi, and Rocio Thrasher.

Texas Tribune - Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, involved in the announcement of charges.

Texas Tribune - Collaboration includes the Texas Attorney General’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, the FBI, and Homeland Security Investigations.

WHAT:

Texas Tribune - Seven people charged with voting in federal elections while not eligible citizens.

Texas Tribune - 117 cases of potential noncitizen voting referred to the Texas Attorney General’s Office for investigation.

Texas Tribune - 578 registered voters flagged last year as potential noncitizens confirmed as U.S. citizens.

Texas Tribune - Six of the accused were indicted last week; the seventh charged in a criminal complaint.

Texas Tribune - Akpom voted illegally in the 2018 general election but was not charged due to the statute of limitations.

Texas Tribune - Katubadi cast a provisional ballot that was ultimately rejected.

WHERE:

Texas Tribune - Charges announced in Tarrant County, Texas.

Texas Tribune - Texas Secretary of State’s Office involved in the investigation.

WHEN:

Texas Tribune - Charges announced on a Tuesday.

Texas Tribune - The 2024 election referenced in the context of illegal voting.

Texas Tribune - The Nov. 3 election mentioned as a future event.

WHY:

Texas Tribune - Charges come amid President Trump’s administration's efforts to address noncitizen voting and voter fraud.

Texas Tribune - The investigation is part of ongoing efforts to review voter citizenship.

HOW:

Texas Tribune - The Texas Secretary of State’s Office checked the state’s voter roll against a federal program known as SAVE to identify potential noncitizens.

Texas Tribune - Counties began investigating flagged registrants after receiving a list of potential noncitizens.

(UPDATED September 16, 2026 10:42 UTC)

In Tarrant County, Texas, seven individuals have been charged with voting in federal elections while not being eligible citizens, with the announcement made by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton alongside federal authorities including the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations. Six of the accused were indicted last week, while a seventh was charged in a criminal complaint, and the investigation revealed 117 cases of potential noncitizen voting, leading to the review of 578 registered voters flagged last year. This effort is part of ongoing initiatives to address noncitizen voting and voter fraud, particularly in light of the upcoming Nov. 3 election.