LOS ANGELES — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - California, Central), published as received.

LOS ANGELES – Six additional foreign nationals residing in the Antelope and San Fernando valleys of Los Angeles County have been charged in federal criminal complaints alleging they illegally registered to vote and voted in California then lied about it on their forms to become naturalized United States citizens, the Justice Department announced today.

The following six additional defendants are charged with making false statements on their naturalization applications:

  • Sirgalahad Camua, 43, a citizen of the Philippines who resides in Palmdale;
  • Krystel Capi Valle, 31, a Mexican national living in Palmdale;
  • Moria Dahan, 35, an Israeli national living in West Hills;
  • Chad Goertz, 52, a Canadian citizen living in Agua Dulce;
  • Mahyar Nikzad, 35, an Iranian national living in Canoga Park; and
  • Gilberto Ruiz, 46, a citizen of Mexico who resides in Palmdale.

These additional criminal charges are a part of “Operation Protect the Vote” – an ongoing, coordinated federal effort in California to root out fraud in U.S. elections and protect electoral integrity. 

“Today, my office announces criminal charges against six additional noncitizens for unlawfully registering and voting in our elections,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “We have now charged 34 defendants in Operation Protect the Vote, and every one of their names was on the list we provided to California officials. There are thousands of suspected noncitizens on California’s voter rolls, and we renew our request for California to expeditiously work with us to verify the citizenship of those casting ballots in elections. Every illegal vote cast and counted cancels the legitimate vote of an American citizen. We will continue to arrest and prosecute those who threaten our democratic republic through unlawful vote dilution.”

“We must protect the vote of every American citizen,” said Erin Burke, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles. “HSI will follow the evidence wherever it leads and work to hold accountable those who violate federal law. We thank the U.S. Attorney's Office for its leadership and partnership.”

“Protecting the integrity of our elections is not a Republican or Democratic issue – it is an American and Californian responsibility,” said San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow. “We appreciate our federal partners’ assistance and will independently investigate every credible allegation of illegal voting, follow the evidence, and enforce California law while safeguarding the rights of every accused person.”

Every defendant charged in Operation Protect the Vote is a lawful permanent resident (LPR) or commonly known as having a “green card.” LPRs are not U.S. citizens and are not legally permitted to register to vote or to vote in U.S. elections. 

The defendants arrested today – Camua, Capi Valle, Dahan, Goertz, and Nikzad – are scheduled to make their initial appearances this afternoon in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.

According to affidavits filed with the complaints, Camua illegally registered to vote in August 2009 by falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen. He voted by mail-in ballot in May 2020, November 2024, and June 2026. In May 2025, Camua filed paperwork seeking to become a naturalized U.S. citizen and, under penalty of perjury, falsely stated that he had neither claimed to be a U.S. citizen nor had he registered to vote in U.S. elections.

Capi Valle in June 2026 swore under penalty of perjury on her naturalization form that she had never claimed to be a U.S. citizen nor had she registered to vote in U.S. elections. In fact, in October 2022 she illegally registered to vote by lying that she was a U.S. citizen. She then illegally voted by mail-in ballot in the November 2022 election.

Dahan illegally registered to vote and voted in person on November 5, 2024, the date of the U.S. general election. She falsely claimed under penalty of perjury to be a U.S. citizen. On her naturalization form dated November 6, 2025, she falsely stated under penalty of perjury that she never claimed to be a U.S. citizen nor had she registered to vote in a U.S. election.

Goertz illegally registered to vote in April 2018 and illegally voted by mail in the November 2022 and November 2024 U.S. elections. In February 2026, Goertz lied under oath on his naturalization form when he denied having ever claimed to be a U.S. citizen and denied having ever registered to vote in a U.S. election.

In September 2024, Nikzad illegally registered to voted and under penalty of perjury checked the box on his voter registration form reading, “I am a U.S. citizen.” Records indicate that Nikzad voted in the March 2024 and November 2024 U.S. elections. In February 2026, under penalty of perjury, he falsely stated that he never claimed to be a U.S. citizen and denied ever registering to become a U.S. voter.

Ruiz in July 2022 registered to vote and he voted by mail-in ballot in three elections: November 2022, March 2024, and November 2024, falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen. In August 2025, under penalty of perjury, Ruiz denied ever claiming to be a U.S. citizen and denied having ever registered to vote. 

A criminal complaint merely contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

If convicted, each defendant would face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison.

Homeland Security Investigations is investigating these matters. 

Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Wheat and Minjae Kim of the Orange County Office are prosecuting these cases.