DETROIT, Mich — A Dominican Republic national who was illegally living in Michigan has pleaded guilty to illegally voting in U.S. elections and attempting to fraudulently obtain a United States passport, federal prosecutors announced Thursday, January 8, 2026.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, Jose Gargenis Vasquez-Rosa admitted to three federal crimes: making a false statement in a U.S. passport application, falsely claiming U.S. citizenship to obtain a federal benefit, and illegal voting by an alien.
Federal authorities say Vasquez-Rosa’s immigration fraud dates back more than two decades. In 2002, he applied for a visa to enter the United States as the spouse of a U.S. citizen, but that application was denied after investigators determined the relationship was fraudulent.
Despite the denial, Vasquez-Rosa later entered and remained in the country illegally. In 2016, while living in Michigan, he assumed the identity of a Puerto Rican man and used that stolen identity to obtain a Michigan driver’s license. That same transaction also resulted in his registration to vote.
Using the fraudulent identity, Vasquez-Rosa voted in person in the 2018 election and again by absentee ballot in the 2020 election, prosecutors said. That same year, he attempted to secure a U.S. passport under the false identity. The application was flagged by the U.S. Department of State, and no passport was issued.
U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. condemned the conduct in blunt terms.
“American citizens paid for the right to vote with their blood,” Gorgon said in a statement. “This illegal alien lied to get into our country and stole that right. And we won’t let criminals undermine our elections.”
The investigation was led by the Diplomatic Security Service Detroit Resident Office. DSS Resident Agent in Charge Matthew Kupac said identity theft and document fraud pose serious national security risks.
“Deterring, detecting, and investigating U.S. passport and visa fraud is essential to protecting the integrity of U.S. borders and preventing illegal immigration,” Kupac said.
Vasquez-Rosa now faces a maximum possible sentence of 10 years in federal prison. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.
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