Carlos Felipe Jaramillo Grajales, a 55-year-old Colombian national living in Jacksonville, Florida, has been sentenced to three years in federal prison. On August 12, he admitted to assuming the identity of a U.S. citizen to acquire official documents and vote in several elections over more than two decades.
The Elaborate Identity Fraud
According to the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security, Jaramillo Grajales appropriated the name, birth date, and Social Security number of a U.S. citizen born in Puerto Rico. This allowed him to construct a parallel identity which he maintained since at least 2003.
Using this false information, he obtained a Florida driver's license in March 2003, renewing it multiple times until February 2024. He also secured a U.S. passport in May of that year, which was renewed in 2013 and 2023.
Illegal Voting Activities
In December 2010, Jaramillo Grajales submitted a voter registration application in Florida, falsely claiming to be a Puerto Rican-born citizen. The application was approved, enabling him to participate in various elections, including the one held in Duval County on November 3, 2020.
Unraveling the Fraudulent Scheme
Under his fabricated identity, Jaramillo Grajales married a woman who entered the United States on a tourist visa in September 2003. This marriage allowed her to apply for permanent residency and eventually gain citizenship in August 2017, supposedly through marriage to a U.S. citizen.
After their divorce in January 2020, Jaramillo Grajales traveled to Colombia in May 2024 under his alias. The fraud was uncovered when his ex-wife traveled to Colombia and applied for a fiancé visa using his real name. Upon returning to the U.S. under his true identity and remarrying her in June 2025, the permanent residency application he filed exposed his double identity to authorities.
Legal Consequences and Sentencing
Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger of the Middle District of Florida's Federal Court also issued a deportation order to Colombia following the completion of his sentence. Jaramillo Grajales pleaded guilty to four charges: making false statements on a passport application, aggravated identity theft, falsely claiming a Social Security number was assigned to him, and falsely declaring U.S. citizenship to vote.
Investigation and Broader Implications
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Diplomatic Security Service of the State Department, and the Office of Inspector General of the Social Security Administration. Tim Hemker, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of HSI Jacksonville, remarked, "This illegal alien spent years exploiting a stolen U.S. citizen's identity to obtain government documents, claim benefits, and illegally participate in the electoral process."
Markwayne Mullin, Secretary of Homeland Security, emphasized, "Election security is national security. Only Americans should choose American leaders."
This conviction aligns with the Trump administration's systematic effort to combat illegal voting by non-citizens ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections. Similar arrests have occurred in New Jersey, Louisiana, and Kansas in recent months.
In July, Secretary Mullin sent letters to secretaries of state across several states, warning that tens of thousands of non-citizens are registered to vote. In June, he directed ICE to deport individuals who illegally participate in U.S. elections.
Questions About Identity Theft and Voter Fraud
How did Jaramillo Grajales maintain a false identity for so long?
He used the personal information of a U.S. citizen born in Puerto Rico to create and sustain a parallel identity, acquiring official documents like a driver's license and passport under a false name.
What led to the exposure of his fraudulent activities?
The fraud was discovered when Jaramillo Grajales's ex-wife applied for a fiancé visa using his real name, prompting scrutiny that revealed his dual identity.
What are the legal ramifications of this case?
Jaramillo Grajales was sentenced to three years in federal prison and faces deportation to Colombia after serving his sentence. He pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including identity theft and false voter registration.