A 70-year-old Canadian citizen who built a life in coastal North Carolina has now admitted in federal court that he should never have been in the voting booth at all.
On Friday, prosecutors said Denis Bouchard, 70, pleaded guilty to federal charges after falsely certifying that he was a U.S. citizen on North Carolina voter-registration forms and then casting ballots in the 2022 midterm and 2024 presidential elections. The plea resolves two counts tied specifically to those registration applications.
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Bouchard has lived in the United States since the 1960s but never became a naturalized citizen. U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert T. Numbers II accepted the plea in case No. 7:25-CR-00083-D, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Haughton is prosecuting the case.
Prosecutors Say Case Is About Shoring Up Election Confidence
U.S. Attorney W. Ellis Boyle framed the prosecution as a message case, saying it is meant to reassure voters that illegal ballots will be tracked down and charged, even years later. The announcement linked Bouchard’s plea to broader efforts to safeguard upcoming election cycles and to show there is an active backstop against voter fraud.
The same release also quoted FBI leadership in North Carolina, underscoring that election security remains a top priority, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Federal agents emphasized that they intend to keep a close watch on who is actually eligible to cast a ballot.
Local Records Hint at a Long Voting History
Local records suggest this was not a one-off mistake. Prosecutors believe Bouchard voted in elections in New Hanover and Pender counties for roughly two decades, according to local reporting, although the formal federal charges cover only the 2022 and 2024 registration forms. WRAL notes that investigators were told some earlier instances may fall outside a five-year statute of limitations, which can cap how far back federal prosecutors are willing or able to reach.
Potential Prison Time and a Quiet Defense Table
When Bouchard returns to court for sentencing, he faces up to five years in prison on each count, for a statutory maximum of 10 years, according to coverage citing federal prosecutors. Court records do not list a defense attorney, and efforts to reach Bouchard directly were unsuccessful, WNCN/Yahoo reports.
False Citizenship Claims Carry Immigration Fallout
Beyond any prison sentence, Bouchard’s guilty plea sits in a particularly unforgiving corner of immigration law. Federal statutes make it a crime to falsely claim U.S. citizenship in order to register or vote, and that same lie can trigger separate immigration penalties, including inadmissibility or deportation.
A Congressional Research Service summary on Congress.gov lays out the relevant laws, including 18 U.S.C. § 1015(f) and 18 U.S.C. § 611, and explains how unlawful voting or fake citizenship claims can derail an immigrant’s ability to remain in the country or ever naturalize. In short, this is the kind of case that can close multiple doors at once.
The FBI’s Charlotte field office posted its own warning on X, saying agents "will fully investigate and prosecute anyone who illegally participates in the democratic process" as officials look ahead to the 2026 elections. FBI Charlotte also shared instructions for submitting tips and other information from the public.
