By George Omagbemi
A 67-year-old Nigerian national living in Olathe, Kansas, has been indicted in the United States over allegations that he falsely claimed to be a U.S. citizen and unlawfully voted in a federal election.
The U.S. Department of Justice said George Olawunmi Johnson appeared before a federal magistrate judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
Johnson faces four federal charges, including false claim of U.S. citizenship, false claim of citizenship to register or vote, fraudulent election conduct and voting by an alien in a federal election.
Prosecutors allege that Johnson, a permanent resident rather than a U.S. citizen, falsely identified himself as a citizen when registering to vote in Johnson County in February 2010. They further allege that he cast a ballot in the November 2024 federal election.
The legal distinction is important: the case does not merely concern voting by a non-citizen. Prosecutors also allege that Johnson affirmatively represented himself as a U.S. citizen for voting purposes, which forms the basis of separate federal charges.
Under U.S. federal law, non-citizens are prohibited from voting in federal elections, while falsely claiming U.S. citizenship for voting purposes can constitute a separate criminal offence.
HSI is investigating the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler handling the prosecution.
Johnson has been indicted, not convicted. The charges remain allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless the government proves them beyond a reasonable doubt.
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