Arkansas AG Arrests Three Noncitizens for Illegal 2024 Voting

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin announced the arrests of three noncitizens—Cecilia Castellanos, Zlata Risley, and Chi Baum—charged with illegally voting in Arkansas elections, including the 2024 general election. Castellanos, a Cuban national with a pending removal order and three prior felony convictions, faces perjury and felony charges for falsely claiming U.S. citizenship and voting unlawfully. Risley, a lawful permanent resident from Kazakhstan, was charged with a felony for voting illegally in the Republican primary, while Baum, a Nigerian conditional permanent resident, faces perjury and felony charges for voting despite not being a citizen. The investigation began after federal officials flagged discrepancies between voter registrations and citizenship status, leading to cooperation between the Arkansas Attorney General's Office and Homeland Security Investigations. Griffin emphasized that Arkansas elections are secure and that the office acts swiftly to address rare violations to uphold electoral integrity. This case is part of broader federal efforts, such as Operation "False Haven," targeting fraudulent citizenship and illegal voting.