An Olathe man is facing federal charges after allegedly registering and voting illegally in Kansas.
On Wednesday in the U.S. District Court of Kansas, George Olawunmi Johnson, 67, a Nigerian national living in Olathe, made an initial appearance for one count of making a false claim to U.S. citizenship.
Johnson is also charged with one count of making a false claim to U.S. citizenship to vote, one count of fraudulent election conduct and one count of voting by an alien in a federal election, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Angel D. Mitchell is presiding over the case.
Johnson illegally registered to vote in 2010
While living here as a permanent resident, Johnson claimed he was a U.S. citizen when he registered to vote in Johnson County in February 2010.
On Nov. 5, 2024, Johnson cast a ballot in the presidential election, prosecutors allege. Court records did not state who he voted for.
On Tuesday, a warrant was issued for Johnson’s arrest by U.S. Marshals, according to U.S. federal court records.
The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. In court files for the case, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation filed a notice to the court that they are not involved with the case.
Illegal immigration and voting remains issue in Kansas
Statehouse leaders in Kansas argued this past session about a measure to prevent noncitizen voting.
In February, Kansas Republicans introduced a bill that would have had every Kansas driver’s license list the driver’s citizenship status to help with election security. Kansas Democrats worried it could cause discrimination. It died in a Kansas Senate Committee in April.
At a rally in an Olathe manufacturing facility on Sept. 14, Vice President J.D. Vance touted the federal crackdown on illegal immigration.
“This is not about hating anybody, no matter what the radical fringe of the left says,” Vance said. “This is about love for our fellow citizens.”
Clay Barker, general counsel for the Kansas Secretary of State, said noncitizen voting is very rare.
What’s next
Johnson does not have an attorney representing him and no future court date has been scheduled for his case, according to federal court records.
