Legal Permanent Resident Indicted for Illegally Voting in 2024 Election
COLUMBIA, S.C. / Wednesday, June 10, 2026 — A federal grand jury returned a single-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, charging Ekam Monfum, 38, a legal permanent resident and non-citizen living in Rock Hill, for illegally voting as an alien.
The indictment alleges that Monfum came to the United States in December 2022 and obtained status as a legal permanent resident because he is married to a United States citizen. Despite not being a citizen, in August 2024, a registration to vote was submitted through the registration portal with the South Carolina Election Commission in Monfum’s name. The process requires the registrant to affirm that they are a United States citizen. Therefore, Monfum voted in the 2024 election.
Monfum faces a maximum penalty of one year in federal prison and a fine of up to $100,000. Monfum will have an arraignment scheduled in the next few weeks.
The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Potterfield is prosecuting the case.
All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Source: U.S. Attorney's Office, District of South Carolina
