A man from South Florida is facing federal charges for allegedly using false identity documents to obtain a U.S. passport and for voter fraud. Ashley R. Rivers, 64, from Margate, Florida, is accused of not being a U.S. citizen and participating in fraudulent actions connected to both passport applications and voting in U.S. elections.
Court documents outline that Rivers allegedly submitted a passport application in 2016, using a fake name supported by fraudulent identity papers, including a false birth certificate. In 2020, Rivers reportedly registered to vote in Broward County under this fraudulent identity and voted in the 2020 and 2024 general elections.
Following his initial court appearance in Fort Lauderdale, Rivers could face up to 25 years in prison if found guilty.
The case announcement came from U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Michael Conklin, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, Miami Field Office. The DSS is conducting the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Killoran is leading the prosecution.
The indictment is an allegation, and Rivers is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Further information on the case and related documents can be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.