United States of America v. Bernadette Acaso

Honolulu, Hawaii, criminal defense lawyer represents the Defendant charged with voting illegally in violation of 18 U.S.C. 611, a misdemeanor.

Digested by: Kent Morlan

Bernadette Acaso, 19, a Filipino national residing in Honolulu, Oahu and Kahului, Maui, was born in the Philippines and came to the United States in or around 2018 on an immigrant visa and became a Lawful Permanent Resident. Acaso cast a mail-in ballot in the 2024 general election. Acaso admitted in a statement to law enforcement that she understood she was not a United States citizen at the time she voted.

The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating the case.

If convicted, Acaso faces up to one year in prison, plus a term of supervised release. Acaso also faces a fine of up to $100,000.

The charge in the criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In the case of conviction, any sentence would be imposed by a United States District Judge based on the statutory sentencing factors and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.