Immigration charges have been filed against Andrea Catanese, a 60-year-old Italian national accused of voting in the 2024 federal general election and later concealing that vote during the naturalization process.
According to the indictment described by the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Catanese is charged with voting by an alien, attempting to unlawfully obtain naturalization and making a false statement connected to naturalization.
The case was announced by USCIS on October 7, 2026, after the agency said it provided critical assistance to the investigation.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida announced the federal charges several days earlier, on October 2, 2026.
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What prosecutors allege happened
The indictment alleges that Catanese voted in the 2024 general election even though he was not a United States citizen at the time.
Federal prosecutors further allege that he later submitted Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, and stated that he had never voted in a federal election.
The indictment also alleges that Catanese repeated the same denial during an interview with a USCIS official who was reviewing his citizenship application.
Those allegations form the basis for the naturalization-related counts.
The government must prove each charge in federal court beyond a reasonable doubt.
Charges and potential penalty
Catanese faces three federal counts: voting by an alien, attempting to procure naturalization unlawfully and making a false statement in connection with naturalization.
If convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum possible sentence of 10 years in federal prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
A maximum penalty is not an automatic sentence.
Any punishment would depend on the specific convictions, sentencing rules, the facts established in court and the judge’s decision.
The case is at the indictment stage.
An indictment is a formal accusation issued through the federal criminal process and is not a finding that the defendant committed the alleged offenses.
Why the naturalization application matters
Immigration officials use Form N-400 to collect information relevant to an applicant’s eligibility for U.S. citizenship.
Applicants must answer the form accurately and must provide truthful answers during the naturalization interview.
Questions about voting, registration and claims of U.S. citizenship can be significant because federal elections are limited to eligible U.S. citizens.
A noncitizen’s participation in a federal election can also raise separate immigration and naturalization concerns.
In this case, prosecutors allege that the voting conduct occurred before the naturalization application and that the alleged false answers were later made in written and oral communications with immigration officials.
The charges do not establish whether Catanese’s naturalization application was approved or denied.
The official announcements say only that he was charged in connection with attempting to obtain naturalization and making statements during the application process.
Agencies involved in the investigation
The investigation was led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from USCIS and the Pasco County Supervisor of Elections.
USCIS handles immigration benefits and naturalization applications, while Homeland Security Investigations investigates a broad range of federal crimes involving immigration, customs and transnational activity.
Local election officials can help federal investigators review voter-registration and election records.
Those records may be relevant when authorities examine whether a person was eligible to vote or made a false certification during registration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark E.
Andreu is prosecuting the case for the federal government, according to the official announcements.
What noncitizens should know about federal voting
Noncitizens generally cannot vote in federal elections.
That restriction applies to people who hold lawful permanent resident status as well as people in other noncitizen immigration categories.
Immigration status and citizenship are different legal classifications.
A green card allows an eligible person to live and work permanently in the United States, but it does not provide the right to vote in federal elections.
People applying for naturalization should review every answer on Form N-400 carefully and should not guess when responding to questions about prior voting, registration or claims of citizenship.
Applicants who are unsure how a past event affects their eligibility should seek advice from a licensed immigration attorney or an accredited representative before filing or during the naturalization process.
Possible immigration consequences
The official announcements do not state what immigration action, if any, has been taken against Catanese beyond the criminal charges.
Depending on the facts and the outcome of the case, alleged unlawful voting or false statements may create separate questions about naturalization eligibility, admissibility, removability or the validity of an immigration benefit.
Those consequences are fact-specific and cannot be determined from the charging announcement alone.
A criminal charge is also different from a final conviction.
Immigration agencies and courts may consider different legal standards and records, so people facing similar allegations should obtain case-specific legal advice.
How to report suspected immigration benefit fraud
USCIS says the public can report suspected immigration benefit fraud or abuse through its online USCIS Tip Form.
Reports should be limited to information the person reasonably believes is accurate.
Filing a report does not determine guilt, and USCIS or another agency must evaluate the information through the appropriate process.
People with questions about their own immigration applications should use official USCIS resources or consult qualified legal counsel rather than rely on social media posts or informal advice.
What happens next in the case
The federal criminal case will proceed through the court process, which may include an initial appearance, arraignment, motions, discovery and further proceedings before trial or another resolution.
The government will have to prove the charges against Catanese in court.
He is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty.
Any future court filing, plea, trial result or sentencing decision could provide additional information about the allegations and their consequences.
The current USCIS and Justice Department announcements do not establish the final outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Andrea Catanese?
Andrea Catanese is a 60-year-old Italian national who has been federally indicted in Florida on charges related to alleged voting in the 2024 general election and statements made during the naturalization process.
What charges does Catanese face?
He faces charges of voting by an alien, attempting to unlawfully procure naturalization and making a false statement related to naturalization.
What is the maximum penalty mentioned by prosecutors?
The U.S. Attorney’s Office says Catanese faces a maximum possible penalty of 10 years in federal prison if convicted on all counts. The actual sentence, if any, would be determined by the court.
Can a noncitizen vote in a federal election?
Noncitizens generally cannot vote in federal elections. Lawful permanent resident status does not provide the right to vote in federal elections.
Has Catanese been found guilty?
No. The allegations are contained in a federal indictment, and Catanese is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Fact-Checked: Reported from USCIS and corroborated with current U.S. Department of Justice announcements dated October 2 and October 5, 2026.
Disclaimer: This article describes allegations and official charges, not a final court finding. Immigration consequences depend on individual facts and legal proceedings.
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