Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton today released the following statement after a Jury in Tarrant County convicted Rosa Maria Ortega, a Mexican National, of illegal Voting by a Non-Citizen and sentenced her to eight years in Prison along with a $5,000 Fine:
“This case shows how serious Texas is about keeping its elections secure, and the outcome sends a message that violators of the state’s election law will be prosecuted to the fullest,” Attorney General Paxton said. “Safeguarding the integrity of our elections is essential to preserving our democracy.”
During her trial, it was revealed that Ortega falsely claimed U.S. Citizenship on a Voter Registration form in Dallas County and then cast ballots five times between 2004 and 2014.
Evidence was presented showing that she attempted to Register in Tarrant County, but Election officials Rejected her application after she admitted she was a Non-Citizen.
Attorney General Paxton and the Tarrant County District Attorney’s office jointly prosecuted the Illegal Voting case.
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A Mexican National who has lived in Urbana since 2005, allegedly using a Stolen Identity, was arraigned Thursday on seven federal Counts, including four related to voting by an Illegal Immigrant.
Miguel Valencia-Sandoval, 33, who allegedly had been using the identity of a Texas man named Ramiro G. Vasquez, pleaded not guilty to the Charges before Magistrate Eric Long at U.S. District Court in Urbana.
An Affidavit accompanying the Criminal Complaint said that Authorities were tipped off to Valencia-Sandoval's real identity last August when the Piatt County Sheriff's office was informed that he had been living under Vasquez's name for about 11 years. Valencia-Sandoval most recently has worked for an Urbana drywall contractor.
Last month, Valencia-Sandoval was arrested at the U.S.-Mexico border in Laredo, Texas, when he attempted to re-enter the Country with a Texas Birth Certificate and State of Illinois ID card bearing the name of Ramiro Guerrora Vasquez.
During an interview with Agents on Jan. 7th, Valencia-Sandoval admitted, according to a Federal Affidavit, that he was not the true owner of the Birth Certificate and that in March 2005 he had purchased it from Oscar Guerrero-Vasquez, Ramiro Guerrero-Vasquez's brother, for $50,000.
Valencia-Sandoval, who lives in the 0-to-100 block of Ivanhoe Drive, U, also admitted that he did not have Ramiro Guerrero-Vasquez's permission to use his identity; had used the identity to live in Illinois since March 2005; had obtained Driver's Licenses, Bank Accounts and Loans for vehicles; had opened Two restaurants that have since been sold; and had obtained a lawful Permanent Resident card for his wife.
The couple has four children, all born in the United States, said his Attorneys, Tony and Evan Bruno.
He also acknowledged, the Affidavit said, that he is a Citizen of Mexico present in the United States without having been Legally admitted or Paroled.
The affidavit also noted that "fingerprint queries" showed that Valencia-Sandoval had twice before been "encountered" by authorities, it didn't say where or when, without having been arrested.
The indictment alleges that Valencia-Sandoval made a false statement of U.S. Citizenship on a Passport application in April 2012. Another charge alleges he made a false claim of Citizenship in order to Vote in an Election. Two Felony charges of aggravated Identity Theft, one for using Vasquez's Identity to get a Passport and another for using the Identity to Vote in an Election, were part of the Indictment.
Lastly, he was charged with three Misdemeanor counts of Voting in an Election by an Illegal Immigrant, for having voted in General Elections in 2012, 2014, and 2016.
Local Federal officials acknowledge the Election-related counts are unusual but declined to comment further.
Asked whether Valencia-Sandoval could be deported, Sharon Paul, the Public Information officer for the U.S. Attorney's office said, "That's a question for immigration."
Valencia-Sandoval faces Prison terms of between 10 years and one year for each of the counts, plus fines.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Freres is prosecuting the Case, which is tentatively set for a Jury trial in April before U.S. District Judge Colin Bruce.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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