Florida officials announced a statewide election-fraud operation involving 20 defendants accused of illegally registering or voting in Florida elections, including the 2024 General Election.
Attorney General James Uthmeier, joined by Gov. Ron DeSantis, said the cases include 16 non-U.S. citizens accused of falsely claiming citizenship before registering and voting, along with four convicted felons accused of voting while still on probation.
“Florida will not allow anyone to steal the vote of Americans at the ballot box,” Uthmeier said.
The investigation involved the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Florida Department of State’s Office of Election Crimes and Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
State officials said the cases began after immigration-status reviews and federal database checks flagged registered voters who were believed to be ineligible. Investigators then reviewed voter-registration applications, poll-book signatures, vote-by-mail records and other election documents.
Among those charged are residents of Lee, Hillsborough, Marion, Polk, Okeechobee, Columbia, Collier, DeSoto and Brevard counties.
Authorities allege several of the non-citizen defendants voted in the 2024 General Election after affirming on voter-registration documents that they were U.S. citizens. Some are also accused of voting in previous Florida elections.
One defendant, Giorgio Dominique Mucelli of Melbourne, is accused of voting in seven General Elections between 2004 and 2024. Another, Selvin Uton Whilby of Tampa, is accused of voting by mail in the 2024 Primary and General Elections as part of a voting history dating back to 2008.
Prosecutors also charged Donta Ta White of Tampa, a convicted felon who authorities say was still serving probation when he registered and voted in October 2024.
Each charged offense is a third-degree felony, according to the Attorney General’s Office. Most defendants could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted as charged, while some face higher potential sentences because they are charged with multiple counts.
DeSantis said Florida has increased its focus on election enforcement since legislation establishing the state’s Office of Election Crimes and Security was signed in 2022.
State officials said more than 100 election-fraud-related prosecutions have been initiated since then.
The investigation remains active, and officials said additional arrests and charges are expected.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
