Friday, October 30, 2026
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Tennessee
NASHVILLE — Three aliens have been charged with illegally voting in federal elections, United States Attorney Braden H. Boucek announced today.
“American citizenship is a precious inheritance and the right to vote is one of the most important and solemn trusts of citizenship,” said Braden H. Boucek, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee. “Tennesseans need to know that those who vote illegally will be prosecuted to protect the integrity of our federal elections.”
“Protecting the integrity of our elections is a responsibility HSI takes seriously,” said HSI Nashville Special Agent in Charge Dennis M. Fetting. “With our partners, we will continue to investigate alleged violations of federal election laws and support efforts to uphold the foundations of our democracy.”
According to court documents, three aliens have been charged for illegally voting in federal elections in the Middle District of Tennessee:
- Garfield St. Vincent Bruce, 48, a citizen of Jamaica, allegedly voted in the 2024 election held in part for the purpose of electing a candidate for President, Vice President, Member of the United States Senate, or Member of the United States House of Representatives and allegedly falsely and willfully represented himself to be a citizen of the United States in a Tennessee voter registration application in 2024 in order to register to vote or to vote in a federal, state, or local election.
- Mariela Elizabeth Avila Ortiz, 33, a citizen of Honduras, allegedly voted in the 2024 election held in part for the purpose of electing a candidate for President, Vice President, Member of the United States Senate, or Member of the United States House of Representatives and allegedly falsely and willfully represented herself to be a citizen of the United States in a Tennessee voter registration application in 2024 in order to register to vote or to vote in a federal, state, or local election.
- Allison Melissa Wilkes, 49, a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago, allegedly voted in the 2024 election held in part for the purpose of electing a candidate for President, Vice President, Member of the United States Senate, or Member of the United States House of Representatives and allegedly falsely and willfully represented herself to be a citizen of the United States in a Tennessee voter registration application in 2024 in order to register to vote or to vote in a federal, state, or local election.
These cases were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, with the assistance of the Tennessee Secretary of State’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney F. Dalton Thompson III is prosecuting the defendants.
An indictment merely contains accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
