Alien Sent to Prison for Illegally Voting in North Carolina Elections
RALEIGH, N.C. / Monday, June 1, 2026 – A federal judge sentenced a Canadian citizen to two months in federal prison for making false claims of United States citizenship to vote in the 2022 elections and 2024 presidential election.
Denis Bouchard, 70, falsely claimed to be a United States citizen when he voted, including registering to vote in the 2024 presidential election. Bouchard resided in the United States since the 1960’s but never became a citizen. He illegally certified that he was a United States citizen on North Carolina voter registration applications and ballots. Bouchard made these false claims of citizenship to vote in North Carolina elections dating back to 2004. Voting records confirm that he unlawfully cast a ballot in nine federal elections between 2004 and 2024.
“We will not allow aliens to disrupt and degrade the U.S. democratic system by lying to pervert the outcome our elections. Every American citizen’s vote is sacred. Allowing a single illegal vote by any ineligible person destroys and negates a citizen’s vote. We have had recent statewide elections decided by 401 votes; some local elections decided by about 20 votes. It happened here, and it can happen anywhere.” United States Attorney W. Ellis Boyle stated today. “The prison sentence that the Court imposed sends a strong warning about the consequences of attempting to take advantage of this country’s free and fair election process. We will protect the Constitutional right of citizens to vote, and prosecute those who attempt to corrupt that system.”
Bouchard pleaded guilty to two counts of 18 U.S.C. § 1015(f). Bouchard also faces one year of supervised release and will be subject to immigration consequences.
W. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after the Honorable James C. Dever announced the sentence. The FBI investigated the case, with assistance from the North Carolina Board of Elections, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Haughton prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:25-CR-00083-D.
Source:
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of North Carolina
USANCE.publicinfoofficer@usdoj.gov
