Two Indian nationals, Amandeep Kaur and Kamlesh Shah, were charged by the U.S. Department of Justice for fraudulent voter registration and casting ballots in California during the November 2024 election.
The charges stem from Operation Protect the Vote, a state‑wide crackdown that has now identified 28 foreign‑national voters who illegally registered. Eleven of those accused were arrested in early‑morning raids across California, according to DOJ spokesperson Trent McCotter.
Both Kaur, a 30‑year‑old resident of Rancho Palos Verdes, and Shah, a 67‑year‑old Sacramento resident, are lawful permanent residents. Under federal law, LPRs may not vote, yet both allegedly registered on election day and cast ballots. The indictment also includes false statements on their naturalization applications.
The federal charges carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. This is the latest of roughly 90 election‑misconduct indictments filed by the DOJ this year, which also includes 50 alleged non‑citizen voters.
Local voter James Martinez, who lives on the same block as Shah, said he was “genuinely shocked to learn a neighbor tried to vote.” He added that the scandal has already eroded trust in the local polling stations.
The DOJ will seek convictions in federal court, and the outcomes of these cases could influence future voting‑rights enforcement nationwide. The next scheduled hearing is set for August 12, 2026.