Full Breakdown
Chinese National Charged with Voter-Fraud Scheme in Massachusetts
8/20/2026, 4:19:42 AM
The Alleged Fraudulent Registration and Ballot Submission
U.S. Attorney Leah Foley announced that Yupeng Sun, a 33-year-old Chinese national living in Andover, Massachusetts, was arrested and charged with one count of fraudulent voter registration and one count of fraudulent voting. Sun submitted an online voter-registration form on October 10, 2024, using the name of another Chinese national who is a lawful permanent resident, and three weeks later cast an early-voting ballot at Malden City Hall under that name. Permanent residents are not eligible to vote in federal, state, or local elections.
Related Immigration Misrepresentations
The complaint alleges Sun filed anonymous tips with Homeland Security Investigations and USCIS accusing the victim of illegal voting and impersonated the victim and the victim’s spouse on immigration forms seeking to terminate their permanent-resident status. After the couple returned from an international trip in June 2024, they were placed in removal proceedings and had their green cards confiscated. An immigration judge restored their status in January 2026 after finding their testimony credible and forensic evidence confirming they had not signed the fraudulent forms.
Background and Context
Sun entered the United States on a B-2 tourist visa in September 2020; the visa expired in March 2021. He later obtained deferred-action status based on a U-Visa application filed in February 2022. The Department of Justice has highlighted Massachusetts as one of six states where federal election monitors will be deployed for the September primary, citing concerns about voter-fraud incidents.
Data and Statistics
- Charges: one count of fraudulent voter registration, one count of fraudulent voting.
- Potential penalties: up to five years imprisonment, three years supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and possible deportation after any sentence is served.
- The early-voting ballot was accepted for the 2024 presidential election, according to Massachusetts voter records.
Official Statements & Responses
Acting Special Agent Jeff Grimming of HSI in New England confirmed the investigation was a joint effort with Lexington and Andover police departments.
Verbatim Quote
- “What we hope to do here is increase voter confidence, make sure there are no language barriers or (lack of) access to voting for Americans with disabilities, or failure to make sure that polling places are open for the amount of time necessary and that everyone has appropriate access to vote who should be allowed to vote,” — Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General.
What’s Next
Sun was arraigned in Boston federal court on the day of his arrest. If convicted, he faces the statutory penalties listed above and will be subject to deportation proceedings after completing any imposed sentence. Federal election monitors are scheduled to be present in Boston and New Bedford for the September primary election.
