Two Non Citizens Charged with Illegal Voting in 2020 Election
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Maywood NJ, the federal push for election integrity has landed in Bergen County. Two residents of Maywood, New Jersey, have been federally indicted for allegedly voting illegally in the 2020 presidential election and lying on their U.S. citizenship applications to cover it up.
The indictments, announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey on January 8, 2026, mark a significant move by the newly formed Election Integrity Task Force.
The Charges: Illegal Voting & False Statements
A federal grand jury returned separate indictments for Muhammad Muzammal, 37, and Muhammad Shakeel, 62. According to federal prosecutors, both men were non-citizens at the time they registered to vote in New Jersey but falsely claimed to be U.S. citizens on their registration forms.
The timeline of alleged events includes:
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November 2020: Despite being non-citizens, both men allegedly cast ballots in the general election for President and Vice President.
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Naturalization Applications (N-400): After voting, both men applied for U.S. citizenship.
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Perjury Allegations: On their N-400 forms and during sworn interviews with immigration officers, both Muzammal and Shakeel allegedly stated under oath that they had never registered to vote or cast a ballot in any U.S. election.
How the Fraud Was Uncovered
The case began at the local level. Debra Francica, Bergen County’s Superintendent of Elections, revealed that her investigative team maintains a running list of potential voter fraud cases.
“In this case, these two Maywood residents were on that list… case files were given to the FBI for their follow-up,” Francica stated.
The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Serious Legal Penalties
If convicted, both men face steep consequences that could lead to deportation and significant prison time:
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Voting by a Non-Citizen: Up to 1 year in prison.
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False Statements in Naturalization (18 U.S.C. § 1015): Up to 5 years in prison.
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False Statements in Naturalization (18 U.S.C. § 1425): Up to 10 years in prison.
Muhammad Shakeel is scheduled to appear in federal court in Trenton on January 21, 2026. Muhammad Muzammal’s initial appearance in Camden is yet to be determined.
Voter Fraud: How to Report
Authorities are urging the public to stay vigilant. If you have information regarding potential voter fraud in Bergen County, you can contact the Superintendent of Elections at: [email protected].
Case at a Glance
| Defendants | Muhammad Muzammal (37) & Muhammad Shakeel (62) |
| Location | Maywood, NJ (Bergen County) |
| Election Involved | 2020 General Election |
| Key Agencies | FBI, HSI, USCIS, Election Integrity Task Force |
| Max Penalty | Up to 10 years in federal prison |
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