New Jersey: Two males from are accused of falsifying in citizenship applications and voting illegally
New Jersey: According to charges issued by a federal grand jury, federal prosecutors in New Jersey have accused two individuals of lying under oath when qualifying for U.S. citizenship and unlawfully participating in a presidential election.
Muhammad Muzammal, 37, and Muhammad Shakeel, 62, are accused in the indictments, which were filed on December 22, 2025, of falsely claiming US citizenship in order to register to vote in New Jersey and of casting ballots in the November 2020 general election, which included the contest for US President and Vice President.
Both individuals were allegedly non-citizens when they registered to vote, according to the prosecution. According to the charges, each guy fabricated a certification on his voter registration applications stating he was a citizen of the United States. Despite not being citizens, their registrations were accepted, and both went on to cast ballots in the main election in 2020, according to officials.
Only citizens of the United States are allowed to register and cast ballots in federal elections, according to federal law.
According to the charges, both men applied for US citizenship by filing Applications for Naturalization, or Form N-400, to US Citizenship and Immigration Services after casting their ballots. Under pain of perjury, applicants must declare on the form that the information they provide is accurate, truthful, and full.
Prosecutors claim that both Shakeel and Muzammal made up statements on their N-400 forms claiming they had never registered to vote or cast a ballot in a municipal, state, or federal election.
Immigration Services Officers questioned both guys after they submitted their petitions. They were questioned about the details on their naturalization papers while under oath during those interviews. According to the charges, both individuals once again made up the claim that they had never cast a ballot in a local, state, or federal election during these interviews.
According to court documents, Muzammal entered the country on an F43 visa in or around August 2017 and was a Bergen County legal permanent resident. He allegedly fraudulently claimed US citizenship when he registered to vote online in New Jersey on or around September 16, 2020, according to the prosecution.
Muzammal is charged with participating in the main election in November 2020 based on that registration. In addition, he is accused of seeking to obtain US citizenship illegally by providing materially false information on his N-400 application and of making false statements under oath during his naturalization interview.
Similar accusations, such as making false claims during the citizenship application process and illegally voting in the 2020 election, are included in Shakeel’s indictment.
The defendants might face severe consequences if found guilty.