DHS investigation results in prison sentence over identity theft and illegal voting case

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Prison sentence for identity theft case

Highlights

Carlos Felipe Jaramillo-Grajales sentenced on August 12 after pleading guilty to identity theft, illegal voting—including in the 2020 general election—and immigration fraud.
Using a stolen identity, Jaramillo-Grajales obtained a U.S. passport, Florida driver’s license, registered to vote, and facilitated his ex-wife’s naturalization through fraudulent marriage.
The DHS-led investigation and sentencing underscore intensified enforcement against non-citizen voting and immigration-related fraud, aligning with Trump-era election integrity priorities.

Florida sentencing and fraud timeline

As reported by Department of Homeland Security, citing the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, Carlos Felipe Jaramillo-Grajales is sentenced on August 12 after pleading guilty to making false statements in a U.S. passport application, aggravated identity theft, falsely claiming a Social Security number, and falsely claiming U.S. citizenship.

Authorities say Jaramillo-Grajales used the name, date of birth and Social Security number of a U.S. citizen to obtain a passport, secure a Florida driver’s license and register to vote. He voted in several elections, including the 2020 general election.

Prosecutors say he also used the false identity in his personal immigration history. Under the false name, he married a woman who entered the United States in September 2003 on a visitor’s visa, a step that allowed her to apply for naturalization on the basis that she was married to a U.S. citizen.

After her naturalization in August 2017, the couple divorced in January 2020 and he returned to Colombia under the false name, according to the statement. His former wife later traveled to Colombia and filed a fiancé visa application for him under his real name; after approval, he returned to the United States, remarried her in June 2025 and applied for permanent residence based on marriage to a U.S. citizen.

Broader enforcement and election integrity focus

The Department of Homeland Security says the investigation is led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, together with the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service and the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General. The case is prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier.

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin says the case reflects the agency’s effort to protect election integrity and remove people who commit immigration and identity fraud. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe and HSI Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge Tim Hemker say the conviction shows authorities are pursuing identity theft, immigration fraud and misuse of government systems.

Authorities also say Jaramillo-Grajales entered the United States illegally at an unknown date and location. DHS links the sentencing to the Trump administration’s broader focus on preventing non-citizens from voting in U.S. elections.

In our earlier report on Operation Gold Rush, we detailed a major cross-border health care fraud case in which Eldar Zarbavel pleaded guilty to money laundering tied to illicit Medicare and private-insurer reimbursements. Prosecutors said he helped move about $3.4 million through U.S. bank accounts linked to a Florida-based medical equipment company as part of a broader scheme built on false records and nominee ownership structures.

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