Carlos Jose Abreu, a 45-year-old illegal alien residing in Broward County, Florida, faced charges in federal court for falsely posing as a United States citizen during voter registration and in a federal election; he's also up against gun charges.
Previously indicted for passport fraud and identity theft, Abreu acknowledged his guilt for the passport deceit on January 8 and is now confronted with fresh charges alleging he's been living under a false identity for nearly two decades, illegally voting and obtaining a firearm despite his undocumented status, having entered the United States 20 years ago and eluding law enforcement since then even after an arrest warrant was issued in New Jersey for serious criminal offenses, as disclosed in a recent U.S. Department of Justice announcement.
The indictment, as stated in court documents, charges Abreu with utilizing the stolen identity to register and vote in the 2020 and 2022 elections; additionally, Abreu is accused of unlawful firearm possession, a violation of federal law for non-citizens without legal status, with potential penalties amounting to 15 years in prison and subsequent deportation risks, as reported by the U.S. Department of Justice.
The case, following an investigation by the Diplomatic Security Services' Miami Field Office, is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brianna Coakley; U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne extended gratitude towards the investigating team for their efforts in this complex scenario, announcing that, despite the serious nature of the allegations presented, an indictment is but an accusation and the defendant, Carlos Jose Abreu, is presumed innocent unless, and until, his guilt is unequivocally established in court, details of which can be found at the District Court for the Southern District of Florida's online resource or through public court records.
