Tijeras Man Indicted on Federal Fraudulent-Voting Charge Over Deceased Wife’s Absentee Ballot

October 10, 2026

A federal grand jury has indicted Patrick H. Perea, 62, of Tijeras, New Mexico, on one count of fraudulent voting. According to court documents cited by federal prosecutors, in October 2024 Perea attempted to cast his deceased wife’s absentee ballot in the November 2024 general election by submitting it to the Bureau of Elections of the Bernalillo County Clerk’s Office in Albuquerque. Prosecutors say the county’s Bureau of Elections intercepted the ballot before it could be counted. If convicted, Perea faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Sources

• U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Mexico, “Tijeras Man Indicted for Attempting to Cast Deceased Wife’s Absentee Ballot in 2024 Election” (Oct. 9, 2026): https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/tijeras-man-indicted-attempting-cast-deceased-wifes-absentee-ballot-2024-election