Federal grand jury indicts illegal alien from Mexico for voter fraud, false statement in passport application, unlawfully possessing a firearm, and other crimes (DOJ)

BOISE - A federal grand jury in Boise returned an indictment charging Fredy Avila Gomez, with Wire Fraud, Theft of Government Funds, False Statement of Citizenship in Order to Vote, Voting by Alien, False Statement in Application of Passport, Fraud in Connection with Identification Documents-Production, False Statement During Purchase of Firearm, and Unlawful Possession of Firearm, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today.

According to court records, from at least March 2017 until in or about June 2026, Gomez knowingly devised and intended to devise a scheme to defraud departments and agencies of the United States and Idaho, including Health and Human Servies, Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. During that time, Gomez allegedly fraudulently obtained Idaho identification cards using a false and fraudulent birth certificate and falsely claiming to be a United States citizen and/or national. The indictment further alleges Gomez used the identification cards and birth certificate to fraudulently obtain a passport, Medicaid benefits, and a firearm.

Gomez also allegedly falsely claimed to be a United States citizen to register to vote and thereafter voted in May 2022 and November 2024.

Gomez is scheduled for an initial court appearance on September 21, 2026, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Debora K. Grasham of the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho. If convicted, Gomez faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Davis commended the work of Homeland Security Investigations; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General; and U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service, which led to the charges.

Assistant United States Attorneys Sean Mazorol and Darci Crane are prosecuting the case.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division ("Fraud Division"). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department's work to combat fraud supports President Trump's Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.