Six noncitizens in California charged over alleged illegal voting

Six more noncitizens have been charged with illegally registering and voting in federal elections, including an Iranian man and a Canadian national.First Assistant U.S.Attorney Bill Essayli announced the charges during a presser Monday as part of what his office has coined “Operation Protect the Vote,” a federal initiative that has now resulted in charges against 34 people accused of illegally registering to vote or casting ballots in federal elections.The new charges come as Essayli ramps up efforts to prevent ineligible ballots from being counted ahead of Election Day.Five of the six newly charged individuals were already in custody Monday morning, Essayli said, adding that the sixth was expected to be taken into custody shortly.Among those charged is Mahyar Nikzad, 35, an Iranian national living in Canoga Park who allegedly voted twice in 2024, casting ballots in both the presidential primary and general election.According to Essayli, the man registered to vote after falsely claiming to be a U.S.

citizen.When he applied for citizenship in February 2026, he allegedly lied under oath by denying that he had ever claimed citizenship, registered to vote or participated in an election.Another defendant, Canadian national Chad Goertz, 52, of Agua Dulce, allegedly voted in the 2022 and 2024 general elections after registering in 2018 and claiming to be an American citizen.Goertz later requested that his voter registration be canceled in September 2025, acknowledging that he was not a citizen and was therefore ineligible to vote, Essayli said.Despite that admission, Goertz allegedly denied ever registering or voting when he applied for naturalization in February 2026.The others who allegedly illegally voted are Sirgalahad Camua, 43, a citizen of the Philippines who lives in Palmdale, Krystel Capi Valle, 31, a Mexican national, also living in Palmdale, Moria Dahan, 35, an Israeli national living in West Hills and Gilberto Ruiz, 46, a citizen of Mexico who resides in ...