A Chinese national residing in Massachusetts has been arrested and charged with illegally registering and voting in the 2024 presidential election by impersonating another individual. Yupeng Sun, 33, of Andover, faces one count of fraudulent voter registration and one count of fraudulent voting, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts.
Federal prosecutors allege that Sun admitted during a July interview with investigators that he registered the victim to vote and subsequently cast a ballot using the victim's identity. When presented with the victim's voter registration information, Sun stated, "I tell you the truth, I register," according to the criminal complaint. After investigators showed Sun a photograph of an early voting ballot envelope submitted at Malden City Hall on Oct. 31, 2024, he allegedly responded, "I used his name to vote."
Massachusetts voter records indicate that the ballot cast under the victim's name was accepted for the 2024 presidential election, the complaint states.
Investigators also allege that Sun previously rented a room from the victim and his family in Malden. He is further accused of impersonating the victim and the victim's wife on immigration documents, requesting that they abandon their legal permanent resident status. Upon returning from an international trip in June 2024, the couple's green cards were confiscated, and they were placed into removal proceedings. An immigration judge restored their legal permanent resident status in January 2026, after finding their testimony credible and receiving forensic evidence that they had not signed the forms, according to the complaint.
Federal investigators also reported that Sun submitted anonymous tips to Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, accusing the victim of illegally voting in the 2024 election. Sun allegedly acknowledged sending these tips when interviewed by investigators, stating, "I went to post office and, uh, to report the father vote."
Sun entered the U.S. in September 2020 on a B-2 tourist visa that expired in March 2021. He currently has deferred action status based on a U-Visa application submitted in February 2022. He is a citizen and national of China.
Each voter fraud charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Prosecutors noted that Sun could also face deportation after completing any imposed sentence. The charges in the court documents are allegations, and Sun is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The investigation was assisted by the Lexington and Andover police departments. U.S. Attorney Leah Foley and Jeff Grimming, acting special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England, announced the charges.