印度籍男子Khalwinder Singh Bhengura在2024年大选中非法投票 德州联邦陪审团裁定两项罪名成立
美国德克萨斯州 Fort Worth：印度籍男子 Khalwinder Singh Bhengura 在2024年总统大选中非法投票，联邦陪审团10月27日裁定其两项罪名成立：外国人在联邦选举中投票，以及为登记投票而虚假声称美国公民身份。德州北区联邦检察官 Ryan Raybould 宣布了这一裁决。
庭审证据显示，Bhengura 是印度公民，2022年6月29日成为美国合法永久居民；他不是美国公民，也从未申请入籍。2024年8月1日，他在 Tarrant County 申领德州驾照时，在申请表上勾选自称美国公民并表示希望登记投票，随后据此被登记为选民。2024年11月5日，他在 Arlington 的 East Library and Recreation Center 亲自投票，当年的大选包括总统、副总统、联邦参议员与联邦众议员等职位。
案件由联邦地区法官 Mark T. Pittman 主持审理，历时两天，陪审团商议数小时后返回有罪裁决。量刑定于2027年2月11日：虚假声称公民身份以登记投票一项，最高可判5年联邦监禁与25万美元罚款；外国人在联邦选举中投票一项，最高可判1年监禁与10万美元罚款。刑期服满后，他还可能面临被遣返出境等移民处罚。
联邦检察官 Ryan Raybould 表示：「在我们的全国选举中投票是美国公民专属的权利。每一张非法选票都会削弱合格公民的声音，本办公室将追究任何破坏我们选举的人。」此案由国土安全调查局（HSI）Dallas 办事处调查，德州总检察长办公室选举廉正组与 Tarrant County 地区检察官办公室协助，助理联邦检察官 Matthew Capoccia 与 Colin Duffy 负责起诉。
Indian National Khalwinder Singh Bhengura Convicted by Federal Jury of Illegally Voting in 2024 Election in Texas
In Fort Worth, Texas, a federal jury has convicted Indian national Khalwinder Singh Bhengura of voting by an alien in a federal election and making a false claim of U.S. citizenship to register to vote, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced. The jury returned its verdict on October 27 after a two-day trial before U.S. District Judge Mark T. Pittman and several hours of deliberation.
According to evidence presented at trial, Bhengura, a citizen of India, became a lawful permanent resident of the United States on June 29, 2022. He is not a U.S. citizen and has never applied for citizenship. On August 1, 2024, Bhengura applied for a Texas driver license in Tarrant County, checking boxes stating that he was a U.S. citizen and wished to register to vote, and he was registered to vote based on that application. On November 5, 2024, he voted in person at the East Library and Recreation Center in Arlington, Texas, in a general election that included races for President, Vice President, U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives.
Sentencing is set for February 11, 2027. Bhengura faces up to five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for making false statements of citizenship in order to register to vote, and up to one year in prison and a maximum fine of $100,000 for voting by an alien in a federal election. He could also be subject to immigration penalties such as removal from the United States after he serves his term of imprisonment.
"Voting in our national elections is reserved for US citizens," U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould said. "Every unlawful vote undermines the voices of eligible citizens, and this office will hold accountable anyone who undermines our elections." The HSI Dallas field office conducted the investigation with assistance from the Election Integrity Unit of the Texas Office of the Attorney General and the Tarrant County District Attorney's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Capoccia and Colin Duffy prosecuted the case.
来源：GSM·美国（原文链接）
图片来源：位于Fort Worth的Eldon B. Mahon联邦法院大楼，本案审理法院所在地。/ The Eldon B. Mahon United States Courthouse in Fort Worth, where the case was tried. By Renelibrary, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
